In a significant military operation, the United States and Israel collaborated to target Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, shortly before a planned strike on Iran. This operation was informed by months of intelligence gathering by the CIA, which tracked Khamenei’s movements and identified a meeting of top Iranian officials in Tehran.
According to sources familiar with the operation, the CIA had been monitoring Khamenei for several months, assessing his location and habits. This intelligence revealed that a high-level meeting was scheduled to take place in a government complex in central Tehran on a Saturday morning, with Khamenei expected to be present.
Officials from both countries adjusted the timing of their attack to capitalize on this new intelligence. The operation was described as a critical opportunity for both nations to achieve an early and significant victory by eliminating key Iranian leadership, including Khamenei.
“The unusually swift removal of Iran’s Supreme Leader was the result of close coordination and intelligence sharing between the U.S. and Israel ahead of the attack,” a source noted.
Sources indicated that the CIA provided Israel with highly accurate intelligence on Khamenei’s whereabouts. Utilizing this information along with its own resources, Israel executed a meticulously planned operation aimed at the Iranian leadership.
Initially, the U.S. and Israel had intended to conduct the strike under the cover of darkness. However, they opted to change the timing to coincide with the meeting in Tehran. The operation commenced around 6 a.m. local time in Israel, with fighter jets taking off from a base equipped with long-range, precision-guided munitions.
Approximately two hours and five minutes later, around 9:40 a.m. Tehran time, long-range missiles struck the complex. At the time of the attack, senior national security officials were gathered in one building of the complex, while Khamenei was in a nearby structure.
“Those familiar with the operation described its success as a result of high-quality intelligence and months of preparation,” a source stated.
In June of the previous year, while plans for strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities were being developed, former U.S. President Donald Trump had claimed that the U.S. knew Khamenei’s hiding places and could eliminate him if necessary. This intelligence gathering also included specific information about the locations of key Iranian intelligence officers.
Subsequent strikes following the attack on the government complex targeted the whereabouts of Iranian intelligence leaders. While the chief intelligence officer managed to escape, the upper echelon of Iran’s intelligence agencies was largely decimated.
Background:
- Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that Khamenei was killed during an operation conducted jointly by U.S. and Israeli forces. The intelligence accurately pinpointed Khamenei’s location, leading to the missile strike.
- The CIA had previously warned the White House that Khamenei’s death could result in power being transferred to more aggressive leaders within Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, who advocate for open conflict with the West.
The coordinated military operation by the U.S. and Israel to target Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, highlights the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and strategic planning. This event marks a significant moment in the ongoing tensions between Iran and the West.