India, June 14 -- Three of Iran's most powerful men were eliminated in Israel's overnight strikes on Iran, throwing a massive challenge to Tehran's ability to retaliate, media reports said.

Those killed included Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the armed forces.

Salami, who led the IRGC, was very close to supreme leader Ali Khamenei and often accompanied him at public events.

The third leader to have been killed was Ali Shamkhani, one of Iran's leading strategists, who served as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and a key adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader.

The Israel Defense Forces said 200 jet...