Israel kills IRGC spy chief, signals extensive Iran strike
Last updated: 11:08 UTC, April 06 2026 | Started: 2026-04-06 10:56 | 2 update(s) | Avg confidence: 79/100
The story so far: The 2026 Iran War began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran targeting its nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile program, and military leadership. Iran retaliated within hours with Operation True Promise IV, firing sustained waves of ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli cities. Since then, Israel and Iran have exchanged daily strikes: Israel targeting IRGC commanders and facilities inside Iran; Iran firing ballistic missiles at Israeli population centers, killing civilians and soldiers.
Latest Updates
2026-04-06 11:08 — Israel kills IRGC spy chief, signals extensive Iran strike
The IDF killed Majid Khademi, head of intelligence for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in a strike in Tehran; Israeli Defense Minister confirmed Khademi directed terrorist operations targeting Israeli and US interests worldwide, according to Haaretz and Times of Israel April 6 liveblogs.
See full breakdown (URL pending)
2026-04-06 10:56 — Israel kills IRGC spy chief, vows full-force Iran campaign
Israel killed Major General Majid Khademi, head of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, in an airstrike on Tehran on April 6; the IRGC confirmed his death in a statement carried by Iran's Fars news agency and on its official Telegram channel, and Israel subsequently acknowledged the operation, Times of Israel reported.
See full breakdown (URL pending)
What We Know
- Israel killed Major General Majid Khademi, head of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, in an airstrike on Tehran on April 6; the IRGC confirmed his death in a statement carried by Iran's Fars news agency and on its official Telegram channel, and Israel subsequently acknowledged the operation, Times of Israel reported.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a Hebrew-language post on X that Israel 'will continue with full force' in its war aims; Defense Minister Israel Katz stated 'The IRGC fires at civilians — and we eliminate the heads of the terrorists,' NBC News reported.
- Iran retaliated with ballistic missile strikes on central Israel; IDF announced detection of a new inbound ballistic missile attack targeting central Israel, and Magen David Adom reported five people wounded in the Tel Aviv area with at least 20 impact sites recorded across the country including Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Petah Tikva, Jerusalem Post reported.
- At least four people were confirmed dead and four others feared trapped under rubble following an Iranian missile strike that caused a building collapse in Haifa, Jerusalem Post reported.
- Iranian missile strikes also hit US forces at Kuwait's Bubiyan Island, wounding six American personnel from falling debris, and struck what Haaretz identified as critical energy infrastructure across the Gulf region, Haaretz reported.
- The IDF killed Majid Khademi, head of intelligence for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in a strike in Tehran; Israeli Defense Minister confirmed Khademi directed terrorist operations targeting Israeli and US interests worldwide, according to Haaretz and Times of Israel April 6 liveblogs.
- An unnamed Israeli political source told Haaretz on April 6 that US-Iran diplomatic talks were likely to fail and that Israel was preparing an 'extensive attack' on Iran, signaling an imminent military escalation.
- Iran fired ballistic missiles at 20-plus Israeli sites on April 6, killing four civilians — a couple in their 80s, their adult son, and his partner — when a direct missile strike collapsed upper floors of a six-story residential building in Haifa, according to Haaretz and Times of Israel.
- Iranian missiles wounded at least five people in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area on April 6, with Times of Israel reporting at least two seriously injured in a cluster munition strike on central Israel.
- Police forcibly dispersed hundreds of anti-war protesters at Habima Square in Tel Aviv on April 4, arresting 17 people despite a High Court interim order permitting the rally, citing Iranian missile threat restrictions, according to Haaretz.
Still Unclear
- IRGC via Fars News Agency (Iranian state media): Khademi was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike, IRGC said in its official statement carried by Iran's Fars news agency.
Times of Israel, April 6 liveblog: The operation was an Israeli airstrike in Tehran; the liveblog attributed the hit to Israeli military action without specifying US joint involvement.
- (Unverified — anonymous source) US-Iran ceasefire talks are likely to fail and Israel is preparing an extensive next offensive against Iran. [Haaretz, April 6 2026 liveblog headline citing an unnamed Israeli official]
- (Unverified — single source; not independently corroborated in available sources) An individual identified as Yazdan Mir was also killed alongside Khademi in the Israeli strike. [Times of Israel, April 6 liveblog]
- IDF / Israeli Defense Ministry (via Haaretz and Times of Israel): The IDF conducted a precision strike that killed Khademi inside Tehran.
Iranian state media (IRNA / Press TV): Iranian state media confirmed Khademi's death but the initial framing of attribution and circumstances of the strike were managed under Iranian state-media information restrictions.
- (Unverified — single source — not independently corroborated by wire agencies as of April 6, 2026) Iran retains approximately half of its missile launchers and a massive drone fleet despite weeks of US-Israeli strikes. [CNN]
- (Unverified — anonymous source — not attributed to a named official on record) US-Iran diplomatic talks are likely to fail and Israel is preparing an extensive new attack on Iran. [Unnamed Israeli political source via Haaretz]
Numbers
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Killed in Iran missile strikes on Israel (April 6) | 4 dead (Haifa building collapse) | Jerusalem Post / Israeli emergency services |
| Wounded in Iranian missile strike, Tel Aviv area (April 6) | 5 wounded (1 moderate, 4 light) | Magen David Adom via Times of Israel |
| Impact sites across Israel (April 6) | 20+ | Jerusalem Post |
| US personnel wounded at Kuwait Bubiyan Island (April 6) | 6 (from falling debris) | Haaretz |
| Civilians killed in Haifa direct missile strike (April 6) | 4 confirmed dead | Haaretz / Times of Israel |
| Wounded in Tel Aviv area missile attacks (April 6) | At least 5 | Haaretz |
| Anti-war protesters arrested in Tel Aviv (April 4) | 17 | Haaretz |
| Killed by US-Israeli strikes on Iran since February 28, 2026 (cumulative) | At least 2,076 | Iran Health Ministry via Al Jazeera |
| Killed and wounded by Israeli strikes in Lebanon (since conflict began) (cumulative) | 1,001 killed, 2,584 wounded | Wikipedia citing IDF/Lebanese sources |
| Israelis killed and wounded in Iranian missile strikes on Dimona/Arad (prior escalation) (cumulative) | At least 180 wounded | Al Jazeera |
| Israeli civilians killed by Iranian ballistic missiles since Feb 28, 2026 (cumulative) | 22 | Jerusalem Post, April 6 live updates |
| IDF soldiers killed by Iranian ballistic missiles since Feb 28, 2026 (cumulative) | 11 | Jerusalem Post, April 6 live updates |
| Total Israelis injured in Iranian ballistic missile attacks since Feb 28, 2026 (cumulative) | At least 6,951 | Jerusalem Post, April 6 live updates |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Majid Khademi and why was he killed by Israel?
Majid Khademi was the Major General commanding the IRGC's Intelligence Organization — Iran's primary military spy service. Israel killed him in a targeted April 6 airstrike in Tehran, part of an explicit strategy to decapitate Iran's military command structure that has accelerated since the war began on February 28, 2026.
Were civilians killed in the Iranian missile strikes on Israel on April 6, 2026?
Yes. At least four people were confirmed killed in Haifa when an Iranian missile caused a building collapse, with four others feared trapped in rubble. Five additional people were wounded in the Tel Aviv area, and at least 20 impact sites were reported across central Israel, Jerusalem Post and Magen David Adom confirmed.
Is there any ceasefire likely between Israel and Iran?
An unnamed Israeli official told Haaretz on April 6 that US-Iran ceasefire talks are likely to fail and that Israel is preparing a further extensive offensive. Netanyahu's public vow the same day to continue 'with full force' and Defense Minister Katz's threat to keep targeting IRGC commanders signal no Israeli intent to pause operations.
Who was Majid Khademi and why did Israel kill him on April 6?
Majid Khademi was the head of intelligence for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Israel's defense minister stated publicly on April 6 that Khademi was responsible for orchestrating terrorist operations against Israeli and US interests worldwide; the IDF struck and killed him in Tehran.
Is Israel planning a major new offensive against Iran?
An unnamed Israeli political source told Haaretz on April 6 that US-Iran talks were likely to fail and Israel was preparing an 'extensive attack' on Iran. No named Israeli official has publicly confirmed a specific timeline, target set, or operational scope for such an offensive.
Why did Israeli police suppress anti-war protests in Tel Aviv?
Israeli police forcibly dispersed protesters at Habima Square on April 4, arresting 17 people, invoking wartime restrictions tied to ongoing Iranian missile threats despite the High Court issuing an interim order permitting the rally. The IDF had capped outdoor gatherings at 150 people citing security grounds.
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