Amid ongoing Israeli and United States strikes on Iran, some officers in Iran’s armed forces have reportedly abandoned their posts, leaving conscripted soldiers without clear leadership. According to accounts given to an opposition media outlet, confusion has spread through the ranks following the reported killing of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with uncertainty surrounding the military chain of command.

Soldiers stationed in Lorestan province said several commanders fled their bases out of fear of airstrikes, forcing conscripts to remain on duty without adequate support. Some troops have reportedly begun sleeping outdoors to avoid potential strikes on military facilities, while expressing concern that leadership has failed to address their safety and basic needs.

The reported disarray comes as Israel intensifies its military campaign, carrying out multiple waves of strikes targeting sites in Tehran and Isfahan and claiming hundreds of targets hit. The President of the United States has also signaled a hardening stance, stating that only unconditional surrender by Iran would be acceptable as the conflict escalates.