Pakistan, June 21 -- TEHRAN/JERUSALEM - In a major escalation, Israel claims to have killed a senior Iranian nuclear scientist, Behnam Shahriari, and his wife in a drone strike on Saturday.

According to Israeli military sources, the attack targeted a two-storey residential building where Shahriari was reportedly staying with his wife. The building was struck by a precision drone strike, leading to their deaths.

Shahriari was said to be a commander in Iran's elite Quds Force, specifically overseeing weapons logistics. The Israeli army stated he was responsible for coordinating arms transfers to Iran-backed militias across the Middle East, including in Syria and Lebanon.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described the mission as a "direct...