The Israeli Air Force killed 40 senior Iranian commanders “within a minute” during the first wave of Operation “Lion’s Roar,” The Jerusalem Post reports, citing a statement by the Israeli military (IDF).

The IDF described the strikes as a “preemptive blow against threats emanating from Iran’s leadership.”

The Israel Defense Forces said that during the first wave, simultaneous strikes were carried out on several sites in Tehran where seven members of Iran’s top security leadership had gathered.

The operation was conducted under the direction of IDF intelligence.

Earlier, Iran reported the deaths of IRGC Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme Defense Council Ali Shamkhani, Major General Seyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Minister Amir Nasirzadeh.