"Karma caught up": Israel eliminated the Iranian general who shot down the Ukrainian Boeing (in 2020) and supplied Russia with "Shaheds"

Brigadier General (former) Amir-Ali Hajizadeh — one of the most notorious Iranian military criminals of recent years — was eliminated in a targeted Israeli strike. It was he who in January 2020 gave the order to shoot down Ukrainian passenger flight PS752, resulting in the deaths of all 176 people on board, including 11 Ukrainian citizens. In recent years, Hajizadeh had also oversaw the supply of Shahed kamikaze drones to Russia, which the Kremlin has used since 2022 in massive attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. ‘Karma caught up’: Israel eliminated Iranian general who downed Ukrainian Boeing (2020) and supplied Russia with Shahed drones – NAnews Israel News Strike on Iran’s military leadership On June 13, 2025, Israeli Air Force carried out a precision strike on an underground bunker of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran. The target was a gathering of top command of the IRGC Aerospace Force. Among those killed was Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the force’s commander, along with his close associates: - Taher-Pour — UAV division commander; - Davoud Shikhian — IRGC Air Defense chief. According to Israeli military intelligence AMAN, the strike was launched during a secret meeting where an attack on the State of Israel was being planned. This is confirmed by official Israeli sources. Who was Hajizadeh, and why was he eliminated? Amir-Ali Hajizadeh was known not only for his role in Iran’s missile and drone programs, but also as the man responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet on January 8, 2020. Under his command, Iran’s air defense shot down flight PS752 from Tehran to Kyiv, killing all 176 people on board. Victims included citizens of Ukraine, Canada, the UK, Sweden, Iran, and Afghanistan. "I take full responsibility…", Hajizadeh said three days after the tragedy. For three days, Iran denied responsibility, claiming the crash was due to technical failure. Only on January 11, under international pressure, the IRGC admitted that its missiles had shot down the plane, and Hajizadeh publicly accepted “full responsibility.” Despite this, no IRGC officer, including Hajizadeh, was held truly accountable. Three years later, he blamed “other agencies,” stating: “We knew from the first hour what had happened, but recognition was delayed for 48 hours.” Who was Amir Ali Hajizadeh? Amir Ali Hajizadeh (Persian: امیرعلی حاجی‌زاده; February 28, 1962 – June 13, 2025) was an Iranian brigadier general and commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force from its founding in October 2009 until his death in an Israeli airstrike in June 2025. Military career and operations Hajizadeh led Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs, was directly involved in supplying Shahed drones to Russia, and commanded attacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East. He personally led Operation Martyr Soleimani — a missile strike on the U.S. Ain al-Asad base in Anbar Province, Iraq, on January 8, 2020, in retaliation for the killing of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. In February 2023, Hajizadeh announced that Iran had developed a cruise missile with a range of 1,650 km and publicly threatened to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, saying in a TV interview: “If God wills, we will kill Trump, Pompeo, and the military commanders who ordered the killing of Soleimani.” Attacks on Israel and award from Khamenei In October 2024, after an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut and the killing of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hajizadeh led a massive retaliatory strike with over 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israel, including Tel Aviv, Mossad HQ, and the Nevatim airbase. For this, on October 6, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei awarded him the Order of Victory, the highest military honor in the country. Shahed supply and Western sanctions Hajizadeh played a key role in supplying Shahed drones to the Russian army for attacks on Ukraine. He personally oversaw the exports as part of Iran’s kamikaze drone program. In 2022, the UK imposed personal sanctions on Hajizadeh, holding him responsible for war crimes. Summary: What Hajizadeh did Date Event Hajizadeh's Role 2019 Drone strike on Saudi Arabia Commanded the operation January 2020 Downing of flight PS752 Gave the order; denied involvement 2022–2025 Shahed supplies to Russia Oversaw drone exports 2024 Attack on Israel Led the second Iranian offensive Retribution from Israel This Israeli operation is symbolic. As analysts at NAnews — Israel News emphasize, it was an act of just retribution for Hajizadeh’s crimes against civilians. His role in the downing of the Ukrainian Boeing was long known, yet due to political inaction, he remained in office until his death. International organizations and states — including Canada, the UK, Ukraine, and Sweden — filed suit at the International Court of Justice demanding Iran be held accountable. In 2023, Iranian servicemen involved in launching the missiles received sentences ranging from 1 to 13 years. But only Israel responded with clear and firm action. Why this matters for Israel and Ukraine The elimination of Hajizadeh and his command team shows that the Iran–Russia alliance will face consequences beyond diplomacy. It is a message to both Hamas and Moscow: terror will be punished. It is figures like Hajizadeh who enable deadly technologies that kill civilians in Odesa, Kyiv, and Tel Aviv. Removing them is a matter of survival. "Punishment for crimes against Ukraine came from Israel. That’s something to be thankful for." — Ukrainian observers commented. This is the kind of news NAnews — Israel News makes accessible, reminding us of the deep connection between the Jewish and Ukrainian peoples. https://nikk.agency/en/karma-caught-up/