Following weeks of muteness, Iran on Thursday officially announced the appointment of Iranian Revolutionary Guard leader, Major General Ali Abdollahi, as the new head of the Armed Forces Operations Room, three months after Israel killed his two predecessors during the 12-day war.
On Thursday, Iranian official news agencies confirmed the appointment in a statement attributed to Abdollahi, marking the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
Iran's state-run Tasnim news agency said Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has appointed Abdollahi, who served as the Coordinating Deputy in the General Staff, as the new head of Iran's Coordination Headquarters – Khatam al-Anbiya.
In his statement, Abdollahi noted that the country’s forces are now more prepared than during the recent 12-day “imposed war” and have reached greater levels of capability and accomplishment.
On June 13, Israel launched what it called “preemptive” strikes on nuclear facilities, military sites and infrastructure in Iran, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists.
Both commanders of Iranian forces' emergency headquarters, Major General Gholam Ali Rashid and his successor Major General Ali Shadmani were also killed during the Israeli strikes.
Shadmani was killed less than 72 hours after assuming the post. His predecessor Gholam Ali Rashid was killed in the first hours of the June 13 Israeli strikes on Iran
Since, Iran has not disclosed the name of their successor. In July, Tasnim and Kayhan newspaper, which is funded by Iran's Supreme Leader, said the Iranian regime will not publish the name of the new commander of Khatam al-Anbiya in order to protect him.
But last month, Israeli reports revealed that Tehran has appointed Abdollahi, 66, as the secretive head of Iran’s Operations Room.
In January 2020, the US added Abdollahi and seven other senior military and security officials to its sanctions list against the IRGC for promoting objectives that undermine regional and global stability. The sanctions came days after the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, who oversaw the IRGC's overseas operations.
Abdollahi held several prominent security posts, including Coordination Deputy for the Armed Forces General Staff, deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs. He also held the position of acting commander of the police.
