US-Israel pound Tehran on day 38, IRGC intel chief killed
Confidence: HIGH (85/100) | April 06, 2026 |
aljazeera.com
In one sentence: US-Israeli airstrikes killed at least 34 people across Iran on April 6, including IRGC intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, as Trump's Hormuz deadline loomed.
Why it matters: The killing of the IRGC's intelligence chief marks one of the highest-profile targeted assassinations of the war and signals Israel's sustained decapitation campaign against Iran's security leadership. Iran's continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which a fifth of the world's oil moves in peacetime — is driving global energy prices higher, with Iran warning prices could top $200 per barrel. Trump's threat to target power plants and bridges represents a potential new escalation phase that would deepen the humanitarian crisis for Iranian civilians.
What Happened Today
- US-Israeli airstrikes killed at least 34 people across Iran on April 6, including at least six children, as strikes hit Tehran and multiple Iranian cities, Al Jazeera and AP reported.
- Israel killed IRGC intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi in a strike on Tehran; his death was confirmed by both Iranian state media and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who vowed to keep targeting top Iranian officials, according to AP and NPR.
- Israel struck Iran's South Pars natural gas field petrochemical complex — described by Israeli Defense Minister Katz as 'a powerful strike on the largest petrochemical facility in Iran' responsible for half of Iran's petrochemical production — killing at least five people and injuring 170 others at the Mahshahr Special Petrochemical Zone, AP reported.
- One airstrike hit Sharif University of Technology in Tehran near Azadi Square, with thick black smoke visible; multiple countries have sanctioned the university over its links to Iran's ballistic missile program, according to AP.
- Trump threatened that if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Monday night Eastern time, the US would target Iran's power plants and bridges, posting 'Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day'; Iran's presidential spokesman called the statement 'sheer desperation and anger,' according to NPR.
Contested Claims
- US President Donald Trump, as reported by Wikipedia/Iranian war timeline: Trump said 'just about everything's been knocked out' and that Iran had no navy, air force, air detection or radar after US-Israeli strikes. Al Jazeera, NPR, AP — April 6, 2026 live reporting: Iran continues to launch missile and drone barrages at Israel and Gulf states, and maintains its closure of the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrating residual offensive capability.
- US Admiral Brad Cooper, as cited in Wikipedia: US Admiral Brad Cooper reported Iran's ballistic missile launch rate fell 90% and drone launch rate fell 83% from day one of the war. IRGC statement, as cited in Wikipedia timeline: Iran says it has launched more than 50 waves of operations against US military bases in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, and continues firing on Israeli cities.
Unverified / Single Source
- (Unverified — single source; not independently corroborated by wire agencies) Qatar struck Iran after Iran attempted to strike Doha's airport and shot down two Iranian Su-24 bombers. [Western diplomats cited by The Jerusalem Post; Channel 12]
- (Unverified — Iranian government has not formally updated figures; single tracker source) Iran's total death toll from the war has exceeded 2,076 people, with its government not having updated the toll for days. [Al Jazeera live tracker citing preliminary figures]
- (Unverified — single government source; not independently corroborated by wire agencies) Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University was struck on April 5, making more than 30 universities hit total. [Iranian Minister of Science, as cited by Wikipedia]
Key Figures
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| People killed in Iran in strikes on April 6 (including children) | At least 34, including at least 6 children | Al Jazeera live blog, April 6, 2026 |
| Total confirmed killed in Iran since war began (Feb 28) | More than 1,900 | AP, cited in ms.now/AP reporting, April 6, 2026 |
| People killed in Lebanon since war began | More than 1,400; over 1 million displaced | AP, April 6, 2026 |
| US military fatalities | 13 confirmed | Al Jazeera death toll tracker |
| Israeli civilian/military deaths | At least 24 killed; more than 6,594 wounded | Al Jazeera death toll tracker |
| Iranian missile launch rate reduction since day one | Down ~90% (ballistic), ~83% (drones) | US Admiral Brad Cooper, as cited by Wikipedia |
| Duration of war as of April 6 | Day 38 (began February 28, 2026) | AP, NPR, Al Jazeera |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the US and Israel attack Iran in 2026? The US and Israel launched surprise strikes on February 28, 2026, following the breakdown of US-Iran nuclear negotiations and a large-scale Iranian crackdown on protesters in January 2026. US President Trump stated the attacks aimed partly at regime change and eliminating Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.
Is the Strait of Hormuz still closed and what does that mean for oil prices? Yes. Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed since the war began. A fifth of the world's oil moved through it in peacetime. Iran has warned oil prices could exceed $200 per barrel. Global energy prices have surged, with Iran also targeting Gulf states' energy infrastructure, prompting Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia to activate air defenses.
Is there any ceasefire proposal and what happens next? Egyptian, Pakistani and Turkish mediators submitted a proposal to the US and Iran on Sunday for a 45-day ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Neither side has accepted as of April 6. Trump has set a Monday night deadline threatening to strike Iranian power plants and bridges if Iran does not reopen the strait.
Background
The 2026 Iran war began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and multiple senior officials in what Israel codenamed Operation Roaring Lion. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes on Israel, US military bases across the Middle East, and Gulf Arab states, while closing the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict is now in its 38th day with no ceasefire in place.
Sources
- aljazeera.com — aljazeera.com (unknown date)
- npr.org — npr.org (unknown date)
- clickondetroit.com — clickondetroit.com (unknown date)
- washingtontimes.com — washingtontimes.com (unknown date)
- en.wikipedia.org — en.wikipedia.org (unknown date)