Israel and the United States' joint operation has dealt a huge blow to Iran in the 18 days of the war so far. The operation, called Epic Fury by the US and Roaring Lion by Israel, saw decapitating strikes on Tehran, killing one and a half dozens of senior leaders, including the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Although Iran is responding fiercely to the Israeli and US attacks and has rattled the entire Gulf with its precision strikes, the loss of top leadership is far more consequential for Tehran.
Who are all top Iranian leaders killed in US-Israeli strikes?
February 28
On day one of the strike, the Islamic regime suffered its biggest setback. Those killed include:
Ayatollah Ai Khamenei: Iran's Supreme Leader, who ruled the country for 37 years from 1989 to 2026.
Aziz Nasir-Zadeh: Iran's Minister of Defence.
Ali Shamkhani: One of the biggest blows to Iran after Khamenei, he was advisor to the Supreme Leader for Security Affairs and Secretary of the Defence Council.
Abd al-Rahim Mousavi: Mousavi's killing was also a big setback for Tehran as he was the Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian.
Army.
Mohammad Fakhpour: Fakhpour was the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Jalali Pour Hossein: Hossein was the head of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry's Espionage Directorate.
Bahram Hosseni Motlaq: Motlaq served as the chief of the Operations and Planning Department in the Iranian Armed Forces.
Mohsen Darreh-Baghi: He headed the Supply, Logistics and Industrial Research Directorate in the Iranian Armed Forces.
Hassan Ali Tajib: Another top armed force official, Tajib was the head of the Supply Department in the Iranian Armed Forces.
Seyed Yahya Hamdi: Hamdi was a senior leader in the Iranian Ministry and was serving as the Deputy Minister of Intelligence for Israeli Affairs when killed on February 28.
Mohammad Shirazi: Shirazi was a close aide of Khamenei and served as the head of his Military Bureau.
Akhr Ebrahim Zadeh: He was the acting head of the Military Bureau of Khamenei.
Saieh Asadi: Asadi was a key intelligence figure in the Iranian regime. He served as the chief of the Intelligence Directorate of the "Khatam al-Anbiya" Emergency Command.
Hossein Jabal Amelian: Amelian headed the Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND).
Reza Mtafari-Nia: He was the former chief of the SPND.
Gholam Reza Rezaeian: Rezaeian headed the Intelligence Directorate of the Internal Security Forces.
March 12
After surprise strikes claimed the lives of 16 top leaders on February 28, March 12 brought another major hit on Iran, which claimed the life of Abu Dharr Mohammadi.
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Abu Dharr Mohammadi: Stationed in Beirut, Mohammadi was the operations commander in the IRGC's missile unit within Hezbollah. According to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), Mohammadi played a key role in rehabilitating Hezbollah's missile program following Operation Northern Arrow.
March 17
Ali Larijani: Chief of Iranian security, Larijani was reportedly functioning as the leader of the Islamic regime. IDF has described him as one of the most veteran and senior figures in the Iranian regime leadership. He was involved in leading combat against Tel Aviv and other Gulf countries in the region.