IDF Chief Intel Make Sure It Continues To Hunt Iran's Military Commander

Head of Israel's Directorate of Military Intelligence Major General Shlomi Binder (not deployed) while giving directions to his staff at the command center on June 19. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence Major General Shlomi Binder said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) should "bury" Iranian military commanders, "wherever they escape."

Speaking to the soldiers at one of the directorate's command centers, Major General Binder explained about the attack that was carried out killing Major General Ali Shadmani, Iran's most senior military commander, earlier this week.

"Two days ago, we managed to attack one of their secret bases in the mountains. Several commanders managed to escape to another location. Twelve hours later, we attacked Chief of Staff Khatam al-Anbiya, who had fled to another mountainous area near Tehran," Major General Binder said. , reported by The Times of Israel June 20.

"We have to hunt them wherever they escape. And you managed to turn Iran from a distant place, 1,500 kilometers away, into a military that we know how to deal with as if it were in our first circle. You have turned the third circle into the first circle," he explained.

Major General Binder said, in an attack that opened the IDF on Friday morning last week, 30 Iranian commanders were killed.

The IDF said eight top Iranian generals were killed that morning, saying the attack killed dozens of commanders and at least nine nuclear scientists.

Israel launched airstrikes in the "Raising Lion" operation against targets of Iran's nuclear and military facilities on June 13 in the morning.

A number of senior generals and Iranian scientists were killed as a result of the attack. They consist of Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Hossien Salami, Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters Commander Major General Gholamali Rashid, IRGC Air Force Commander Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, nuclear scientist and Azad Islam University President Mohammad-Mehdi Tehran as well as nuclear scientist and former head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Fereydoun Abbasi.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was furious at the Israeli attack that killed a number of Iranian military and scientist officials.

In a message to Iranians following Israeli attacks on a number of locations in Tehran and other cities, Khamenei said the Zionist regime would suffer harsh punishment.

"Rezim must bear a strong response," said Khamenei.

After that, Khamenei moved quickly to appoint a number of replacement officials. In the recall published on the same day, Khamenei appointed Major General Abdulrahim Mousavi as Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. In a separate announcement, Khamenei also announced the appointment of Major General Mohammad Pakpour as Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Major General Ali Shadmani as commander of Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters.