‘Cut Off The Head Of The Snake’: US Says Iran's Revolutionary Guards HQ Destroyed In Strikes

Last Updated:March 02, 2026, 07:42 IST

US Central Command announced the destruction of the IRGC headquarters, marking a decisive blow in ongoing hostilities. CENTCOM cited over 1,000 American deaths by IRGC in 47 years.

The US military on Sunday said it had destroyed the headquarters of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the second day of hostilities aimed at overturning the Iranian government. Follow Live Updates Here 

In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, “America has the most powerful military on earth, and the IRGC no longer has a headquarters."

“The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) killed more than 1,000 Americans over the past 47 years. Yesterday, a large-scale U.S. strike cut off the head of the snake," CENTCOM said, describing the operation as a decisive blow against the force.

As missiles continued to strike Tehran, President Donald Trump said the war could last up to a month, telling the Daily Mail that “it’s always been a four week process."

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The joint US-Israeli campaign began on Saturday with strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, with explosions reported in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Israel.

Despite the bombardment, Iran has maintained a defiant public stance. However, Trump told The Atlantic that Iran’s surviving leadership “want to talk," though he did not elaborate on the details. The Pentagon confirmed that “three US service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded," adding that others suffered minor shrapnel injuries and concussions. “Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing," it said.

Highlighting the domestic political stakes for Trump, the 79-year-old Republican took several hours to respond to the US fatalities before telling NBC News: “We expect casualties, but in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world."

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Iran Strikes Back

Loud explosions were reported in Tehran on Sunday as Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced a “large-scale" retaliatory operation, launching missiles and drones at targets around the Gulf region.

An attack on the central Israeli city of Beit Shemesh killed at least nine people, with several others reported missing. Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme Security Council, declared: “Today we will hit them with a force that they have never experienced before."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “declaration of war against Muslims," warning: “Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime."

Also Read: ‘I Have Agreed’: Trump Says Iranian Leaders Want To Talk As Middle East Conflict Escalates

Israel, however, called Khamenei’s death a “first step." Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said the operation “eliminated 40 senior commanders, including Khamenei, in one minute." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added that Israeli strikes on Iran “will only escalate in the days ahead."

(With inputs from AFP)

News world ‘Cut Off The Head Of The Snake’: US Says Iran's Guards Headquarters Destroyed In Strikes

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