The recent Israeli strikes have resulted in the death of the commander of the IRGC's air force, Brig-Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, as confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Iran's official IRNA news agency. Hajizadeh, who was appointed by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in 2009, had a long history of service in the IRGC, joining in 1980 during the Iran-Iraq War. He played key roles in the IRGC's missile development program and was later sanctioned by the US Treasury for his involvement in shooting down a US surveillance drone in 2019.
Additionally, Hajizadeh took responsibility for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner near Tehran in 2020, stating that he would accept any punishment determined by Iranian authorities.
Source: BBC
