First strike itself took Khamenei's life

• Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a massive joint US-Israel strike that targeted his residence and office in Tehran. The attack reportedly involved US Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed Iran’s air defence systems, followed by Israeli bunker buster and SPICE guided bombs that penetrated deep into the buildings and triggered multiple explosions.
• Although the first attack carried out at 9:45 a.m. local time on Saturday claimed the life of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the information was confirmed by Iran only after midnight.

How the attack was planned

• Israel’s Mossad and the US CIA had been monitoring Khamenei’s residence and office for months using satellite surveillance, artificial intelligence technology, and local intelligence sources inside Iran.
• It is difficult to assassinate Khamenei while he is hiding in a bunker. Therefore, the first attack was planned directly against Khamenei. The CIA informed the United States that Khamenei had arrived at his office for a meeting.
• The US President gave approval for the attack
• Nine Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jets flew towards Tehran.
• At the same time, Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from US aircraft carriers and military bases, disabling Iran’s air defence systems.
• About 30 bunker buster and SPICE guided bombs were then dropped from Israeli jets, directly targeting Khamenei’s residence and office.
• The bombs penetrated the structures and caused powerful explosions. Israeli jets returned after completing the mission.
• Satellite images later showed the area completely destroyed. Iranian authorities reportedly identified Khamenei’s body from the rubble. Israeli intelligence and military officials also verified the strike and informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

How the trap was set:

• Against the backdrop of growing certainty that a nuclear deal was almost impossible, a covert strategy was devised using the third round of indirect nuclear talks scheduled to be held in Vienna today as a cover. An impression was created that no attack would occur until then. Falling into that trap, Khamenei remained in his own office.

40 people killed

Around 40 senior officials are believed to have been killed along with Khamenei. Among them were:

• Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Armed Forces
• Aziz Nasirzadeh, Defence Minister
• Mohammad Pakpour, head of the Revolutionary Guard
• Ali Shamkhani, senior adviser to Khamenei
• Several members of Khamenei’s family, including his daughter, son-in-law, grandson and daughter-in-law