According to the IDF Spokesperson, this center was used by the Iranian armed forces to direct military operations under civilian cover. Civilians in the area were warned in advance, and the strike was carefully executed to avoid collateral damage.

While the attack may appear to be just another military strike, it was actually a calculated move modeled after a similar operation in Yemen. In April 2025, the U.S. shifted tactics against the Houthis, targeting their wired and optical communications systems. This forced them to switch to wireless networks, making them vulnerable to U.S. electronic surveillance.

Iran, which helped build the Houthis' systems, had also built its own military communications infrastructure with similar protections. As ballistic missile launches from Iran into Israel intensified, Israel decided to target Iran’s main communications hub, knowing it would force Iranian commanders to switch to wireless alternatives that could be intercepted.

The result: Israeli intelligence quickly identified the location of Iran’s newly appointed Chief of Staff, Ali Shadmani—who had only been in office for less than a week—and eliminated him and his command team in a pinpoint airstrike.

The strike not only killed Iran’s top general, but also triggered chaos at the highest levels. Iranian commanders began fleeing and discarding their communication devices in fear of being tracked. According to Israeli officials, a full-scale hunt is now underway to track and eliminate the remaining senior leadership.

IDF CONFIRMATION:
Ali Shadmani, Iran’s top military commander and close confidant of Supreme Leader Khamenei, was killed in the heart of Tehran. He had been appointed to lead Iran’s armed forces after his predecessor, Alaa Ali Rashid, was killed in the opening strike of Operation “Like a Lion.”

Shadmani had led Iran’s emergency war headquarters and was responsible for planning attacks against Israel. His death is another major blow to Iran’s military command chain.