Lots of observers are remarking on social media that Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas commander Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran resemble the climactic scene in The Godfather when Michael Corleone “settled all family business” with the simultaneous assassinations of his mob rivals.
It’s looking like a more apt analogy this afternoon with breaking news reports that a senior Iranian commander has been killed in Damascus. Asianet news reports:
Unconfirmed reports from Syria suggest that Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Forces, has been assassinated in an attack near the Syrian capital of Damascus. Hajizadeh, a key figure in the Iranian military hierarchy, was reportedly the senior commander behind the Iranian ballistic and cruise missile attacks against Israel in April. . .
The timing of these attacks, including the reported assassination of Hajizadeh, suggests a coordinated effort by Israel to target high-profile figures within Iran’s network of allied militant groups.
Let’s hope this story is true. Let’s hope there are more to come. Stay tuned for updates.
