Israel’s targeted attacks on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure early Friday took out two top Iranian generals.

The Israel Defense Forces strikes took out Gen. Hossein Salami, the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), inflicting a significant blow to Tehran’s governing theocracy. He had a history of threatening the U.S. and Israel.

Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, was also killed. His death further escalates the gravity of the strike and its implications for Iran’s military structure.

Israel’s targeted attacks on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure early Friday took out two top Iranian generals; Gen. Hossein Salami, the leader of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces. (Iranian Leader Press Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images, left, and Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images, right. )

In addition to Gen. Hossein Salami and Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, at least 20 senior Iranian commanders were killed in the strikes, including Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the IRGC Aerospace Force.

Bagheri was instrumental in shaping Iran’s military doctrine and led efforts to modernize its missile and air defense systems. He represented Iran in military coordination with allies like Russia and Syria, particularly during joint operations in the Syrian Civil War.

As the brain behind Iran’s strategic military posture, Bagheri was on Israel’s radar for years as a high-value target.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.