Trump claims Iran’s top military leaders killed, shares strike video
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Washington: US President Donald Trump has claimed that several of Iran’s top military leaders were “terminated” in what he described as a “massive strike” on the capital, Tehran. In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a one-minute, seven-second video purportedly showing explosions lighting up the night sky, as hostilities in West Asia continue to intensify and uncertainty grows over the next phase of the conflict.
The escalation followed a fresh 48-hour ultimatum issued by Trump to Tehran, warning that “all hell will rain down” if Iran does not either reach a deal with Washington or reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route. The warning came amid reports that two US warplanes were brought down over Iran in a single day — the first such losses in the nearly six-week-long conflict. US officials confirmed that one American crew member remains missing in hostile territory, prompting a high-risk search operation.
The battlefield developments have also triggered political turbulence in Washington. In a major shake-up, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to step down and retire with immediate effect, according to Pentagon officials, though no official reason has been disclosed. The move comes as the administration faces mounting scrutiny over the conduct of the war and its escalating human and strategic costs.
Iran has responded sharply on social media, with its embassies in South Africa and Pakistan mocking Trump’s repeated calls for “regime change” in Tehran by suggesting that political upheaval is instead unfolding in Washington. In a widely circulated post, Iran’s embassy in South Africa shared images of US military leaders marked off with the caption “The regime change happened successfully,” alongside Trump’s “MAGA” slogan and a laughing emoji.
In another post, Iran’s embassy in Pakistan reacted to concerns over the missing US pilot by claiming the servicemen were “more in danger with DJ Trump than in custody in Iran,” while asserting that Iranian authorities would treat captives with “dignity and respect.”
The reported downing of US aircraft and Iran’s taunting response have added a volatile new dimension to the conflict, challenging earlier US claims of overwhelming air superiority and raising fears of further escalation across the Gulf region.
