It has been revealed that the strike that killed Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was the result of months of intelligence work and close coordination between Washington and Jerusalem.
US and Israeli officials had tracked the movements of senior Iranian figures for weeks, waiting for a moment when key leaders would be gathered in one place. That window opened on Saturday morning, when intelligence indicated Khamenei and other top officials were meeting at a compound in central Tehran.
According to US media reports (via Defense News), the CIA provided real-time intelligence, which was shared with Israel to carry out the strike. Rather than a covert night raid, planners opted for a surprise daytime assault. Israeli jets reportedly dropped around 30 bombs on the compound at approximately 09:40 local time, aiming to penetrate underground bunkers.
The attack was part of a broader campaign targeting Iran's leadership and military infrastructure. Senior officials confirmed dead include Defence Minister Brig Gen Aziz Nasirzadeh and other high-ranking figures.
US President Donald Trump monitored developments from Florida as the operation unfolded. It took hours before confirmation emerged that Khamenei had been killed. Despite the scale of the strike, Iran had reportedly prepared succession plans in advance...