Brigadier General Kiomars (Hashem) Pourhashemi, a senior commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in Aleppo in what sources described as a special operation targeting the joint command structure of the Assad-Iranian militaries. The killing occurred amid escalating battles by revolutionary factions as part of the Repelling the Aggression campaign against Assad regime forces and Iranian-backed militias in northern Syria.
Iranian media and the IRGC initially reported that Pourhashemi, known as “Haj Hashem,” died during “clashes in Aleppo’s western countryside.” Al-Alrabi Jadeed (The New Arab) outlet reported that Pourhashemi was assassinated by a group of more than 15 revolutionary fighters who infiltrated Aleppo long before launching the offensive.
However, military sources close to L24 revealed a group of three, attacked the joint operations room in New Aleppo, killing Pourhashemi and the majority of officers present, including senior Assad regime military leaders and possibly Russian personnel.
The sources confirmed that three members of the group entered Aleppo a few days before the battle began as part of a plan to target the joint operations room. Once the opportunity arrived as the operations room convened the small team executed the operation, targeting the high-level meeting and neutralizing most of the officers inside.
Although unconfirmed, some military analysts widely speculate that the Red Bands, a special forces and operations unit of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, may be involved in the attack. The unit is known for targeting high-value targets and has conducted similar infiltration missions in the past.
There is also speculation that the attack on the operations room has disrupted the ability of the regime to organize a defense and has played a role in the rapid collapse of Assad and Iranian lines, as the soldiers on the fronts are faced with fierce assaults without the benefit of coordinated leadership.
The Revolutionary Guard also confirmed Pourhashemi’s death, describing him as a “defender of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards” and a key figure in Iran’s operations across Syria and Iraq. The targeted killing of Pourhashemi represents a significant loss for Iran, which has invested heavily in its military presence in Syria to support the Assad regime. Aleppo, a strategic stronghold, hosts numerous Iranian-backed militias and military sites.
A report by the Josoor Center for Studies identified 117 Iranian military sites in Aleppo province alone, part of a wide network of over 500 locations across Syria. Despite a slight reduction in the number of sites this year, Iran remains the most entrenched foreign actor in Syria.
The infiltration and precision of the attack on the joint operations room have raised questions about the security vulnerabilities of Iranian and Syrian forces in Aleppo, as well as the potential presence of Russian personnel at the time of the assassination. Local sources reveal regime intelligence is now investigating members of the security forces in the wake of the attack.
The operation signals a sophisticated and coordinated effort to weaken the Assad regime and its allies at a critical moment in the conflict. The evolving situation in Aleppo reflects the shifting dynamics of a war that shows no signs of abating.
