"“We knew Tehran just as well as Jerusalem,” said an Israeli intelligence official. Speaking to the *Financial Times*, he discussed the background of the deadly airstrike on Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. On the morning of February 28, at 9:40 a.m. local time, dozens of projectiles struck the “House of Leadership” in the heart of the Iranian capital, Tehran. They left behind gray piles of rubble. Khamenei, who had been meeting there with high-ranking loyalists, was dead.
According to consistent reports, the Israeli fighter jets had already been airborne for some time. Supported by cyberattacks and kinetic strikes against Iranian air defenses, they launched their assault. The attack was apparently preceded by a ruse, as the BBC reported, citing an Israeli government official. The military planted photos and information suggesting that Israeli commanders were leaving their headquarters for Shabbat dinner—the traditional Friday evening meal. Yet, instead of spending the weekend at home, they secretly returned to plan the attack. Some even used disguises to avoid arousing suspicion.
The strike against the Iranian leader was a spectacular example of the extent to which Iran and its regime have been—and remain—infiltrated by the intelligence agencies of its enemies, as well as the vast scope of their technical capabilities. According to the *Financial Times* report, Israeli intelligence had access to Tehran’s traffic cameras for years. This provided a source of massive amounts of data that, through the use of sophisticated algorithms and analysis, allowed for the identification of targets. It enabled the mapping of movement patterns for Iranian security personnel—including Khamenei’s bodyguards and drivers.
Israeli and American intelligence agencies were apparently able to confirm with a high degree of certainty that some of Iran's top military and intelligence officials would gather at an above-ground location in broad daylight on Saturday morning. They knew that even Khamenei—who was believed to move from one secret underground hideout to another—would be present at his residence.
The *New York Times* reported that the CIA had obtained intelligence about the meeting and discovered that Khamenei would attend. This information was shared with Israel. Consequently, Israel and the US adjusted their attack plans on short notice; originally, they had intended to strike at night, not in broad daylight.
"We seized a unique opportunity based on high-quality intelligence—in real time," an Israeli military spokesperson said in the days following the attack. According to the *Financial Times*, Israel was also able to discreetly jam mobile phones in the vicinity of Khamenei's residence: had anyone tried to warn Khamenei's bodyguards, they likely would have simply received a busy signal.
The attack on Iran's Supreme Leader had been in the planning stages for months. According to Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israel had resolved to kill Khamenei as early as November. He stated on television that the possibility of such a strike had been discussed within a very small circle. Originally, however, it was not supposed to take place until months later. But amidst the mass protests in Iran, Katz added, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump began discussing the matter.
The fact that Israel even considered a strike of this magnitude might be linked to the loss of deterrent capability by Iran and its allied militias. At the same time, Israel's willingness to take risks has increased. For instance, a lethal strike against the leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah had been considered unthinkable until September 2024. Then, Beirut shook under the impact dozens of bunker-busting bombs, and Hassan Nasrallah was killed.” [1]
1. Wie Israel und Amerika Irans Obersten Führer töteten: Der Angriff auf Ali Khamenei war eine Machtdemonstration der Geheimdienste / Von Christoph Ehrhardt. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Frankfurt. 10 Mar 2026: 5.
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