New Delhi, June 17 -- The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it had killed Iran's top military commander, Ali Shadmani, in an overnight airstrike.

Officials described Shadmani as the closest military figure to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underscoring the significance of the operation amid rapidly escalating tensions between the two countries, AFP reported.

In a statement, the military said following "a sudden opportunity overnight, the (Israeli air force) struck a staffed command centre in the heart of Tehran and eliminated Ali Shadmani, the war-time Chief of Staff, the most senior military commander, and the closest figure to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei".

The Israeli military said Shadmani had commanded both the ...