Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin declared Friday that “war has begun,” asserting that Israel has launched targeted strikes on Iran, including nuclear facilities. According to Dugin, Iranian Chief of General Staff Mohammad Bagheri and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Hossein Salami were killed in the assault. No official confirmation of these deaths or the attacks has yet been issued by either Iranian or Israeli authorities.
Dugin, known for his influential nationalist rhetoric, criticized the Shiite axis—Iran, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iraq—for their delayed response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. He argued that their restraint allowed Israel to dismantle key elements of the so-called “Resistance” without immediate reprisal, paving the way for what he described as a “horrific end.” Dugin suggested Sunni states were also passive, silently observing the expansion of Israeli power and the erosion of symbolic Islamic sites like Al-Aqsa Mosque. He warned they too would soon become targets.
Framing the broader conflict as a psychological and ideological defeat, Dugin claimed that the West and Israel had succeeded in weakening the will of Islamic leadership through fear and complacency. “They are relaxed, decayed, and avoid war at all costs. War is catching up with them and will grind them down,” he said.
There has been no independent verification of Israeli strikes inside Iran, nor any credible reports confirming the deaths of high-ranking Iranian officials. The situation remains fluid amid rising regional tensions following months of Israeli military operations in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon. While Dugin’s remarks are unverified, they reflect growing anxiety over the possibility of a broader, multi-front war in the Middle East
