Israel-US pound Tehran airports; IRGC intel chief killed
Confidence: HIGH (78/100) | April 06, 2026 |
aljazeera.com
In one sentence: Israeli and US airstrikes on Tehran killed IRGC intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi and at least 34 people across Iran on April 6, as Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal.
Why it matters: Israel eliminated the IRGC's top intelligence commander, deepening a decapitation campaign that has now killed over 1,900 people in Iran since the war began on February 28. Iran rejected an Egyptian-Pakistani-Turkish ceasefire proposal and refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's peacetime oil supply flows, keeping global energy prices under severe pressure. Trump's deadline for Iran to reopen the strait expires Monday night Washington time, with threats to strike power plants and bridges if it is not met.
What Happened Today
- Israeli and US airstrikes across Iran killed at least 34 people, including at least six children, on April 6, according to Al Jazeera. Among the dead was IRGC intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, confirmed by both Iranian state media and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
- Dozens of Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck Iranian aircraft and helicopters at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport and two smaller airstrips; the IDF said it had previously bombed runways, control towers, and an IRGC Quds Force drone manufacturing factory at the airports, according to the Times of Israel.
- A strike near Eslamshar, southwest of Tehran, killed at least 13–15 people, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency; five more were killed in a residential area of Qom and six in other cities, per the state-run IRAN daily; three more died when an airstrike hit a Tehran home, Iranian state television reported.
- Israel also struck the South Pars petrochemical complex — Iran's largest, responsible for half of national petrochemical output — with Israeli Defense Minister Katz confirming 'a powerful strike on the largest petrochemical facility in Iran,' per AP.
- Iran responded with missile fire on Israel and Gulf Arab neighbors: Iranian missiles killed four people in Haifa in a residential building, and Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia all activated air defenses to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones, per AP.
Contested Claims
- AP / Iranian authorities: A strike near Eslamshar killed at least 15 people, per Iranian authorities cited by AP. Fars News Agency (semiofficial Iranian): The same strike near Eslamshar killed at least 13 people, per the semiofficial Fars news agency.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: Iran's Foreign Minister said the US struck a desalination plant on Qeshm Island, disrupting clean water to 30 villages. US and Israeli officials: Both the US and Israel denied making such an attack.
Unverified / Single Source
- (Unverified — single source — stated by IDF only, not independently confirmed) Israel killed the leader of the IRGC Quds Force undercover unit, Asghar Bakeri. [Israeli military statement]
- (Unverified — single source — Iranian media only; target rationale not confirmed by Israel or US) One airstrike hit the grounds of Sharif University of Technology near Azadi Square, damaging buildings and a natural gas distribution site. [Iranian media]
- (Unverified — single source — one source told Reuters; not confirmed by US or Iranian officials on record) A Pakistani-brokered ceasefire plan proposes an immediate ceasefire followed by negotiations to be concluded in 15–20 days. [Reuters (single source cited by Just Security)]
- (Unverified — anonymous source — not attributed to a named official) Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir was in contact 'all night long' with VP JD Vance, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian FM Araghchi. [Reuters (anonymous source)]
Numbers
| Metric | Today | War Total |
|---|---|---|
| Killed in Iran — April 6 strikes | At least 34, including at least 6 children | — |
| Killed near Eslamshar, SW Tehran | At least 13–15 | — |
| Killed in Qom residential strike | 5 | — |
| Killed in Haifa, Israel (Iranian missile) | 4 | — |
| High-value targets killed | 1 confirmed — IRGC intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi | — |
| Total killed in Iran since war began (Feb 28) | — | More than 1,900 |
| Total killed in Lebanon since war began | — | More than 1,400 |
| Displaced in Lebanon | — | More than 1 million |
| Iranian civilian units targeted (as of March 7) | — | 6,668 — including 5,535 residential, 1,041 commercial, 14 medical centers, 65 schools |
| Historical sites damaged (as of March 27) | — | At least 120 |
| Sources: Al Jazeera, AP, IRAN daily (state-run), AP / Israeli authorities, Iranian Red Crescent Society, Iranian state media and Israeli Defense Minister Katz, AP (Iranian government figure, not updated for days), Iranian government, Fars News Agency / AP |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was IRGC intelligence chief Majid Khademi and why does his death matter? Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi was the head of intelligence for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, confirmed killed in a Tehran strike on April 6 by both Iranian state media and Israeli Defense Minister Katz. His death continues Israel's systematic decapitation of the IRGC's senior leadership and signals continued Israeli willingness to strike high-value targets inside Tehran.
What is Trump's Strait of Hormuz deadline and what happens if Iran doesn't comply? Trump set a deadline expiring Monday night Washington time for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He threatened to strike Iran's power plants, bridges, and other infrastructure if Tehran does not comply. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran would not reopen the strait as part of any temporary ceasefire.
Did Iran reject the ceasefire proposal on April 6? Iran conveyed its response to the US ceasefire proposal via Pakistan, rejecting it and demanding a permanent end to the war, according to IRNA. Iran's 10-clause response included demands for a Strait of Hormuz safe-passage protocol, lifting of sanctions, and regional reconstruction. Chances of a deal by Trump's Tuesday deadline were described as slim by sources cited by Axios.
Background
The 2026 Iran war began on February 28, 2026, when Israel assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an airstrike on his compound in Tehran, triggering a US-Israeli military campaign against Iran's military, nuclear, and economic infrastructure. Iran has responded with sustained missile and drone strikes on Israel, Gulf Arab states, and regional oil infrastructure, and has closed the Strait of Hormuz — through which a fifth of the world's oil transits — sharply driving up global energy prices. The war is now in its sixth week.
Sources
- ms.now — ms.now (unknown date)
- clickondetroit.com — clickondetroit.com (unknown date)
- aljazeera.com — aljazeera.com (unknown date)
- timesofisrael.com — timesofisrael.com (unknown date)
- washingtontimes.com — washingtontimes.com (unknown date)
- justsecurity.org — justsecurity.org (unknown date)
- npr.org — npr.org (unknown date)