The New York Times revealed on Sunday that CIA intelligence played a key role in the US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. American spies tracked Khamenei for months. They pinpointed his location at a critical meeting of top officials in Tehran.
Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei’s death in the attack on the capital. The strikes targeted a leadership compound in central Tehran. US and Israeli forces aimed for regime change in the Islamic Republic.
How Intelligence Shaped the Operation
CIA sources learned about a high-level gathering scheduled for Saturday morning. Officials originally planned nighttime strikes. However, they shifted timing after receiving fresh CIA details. Washington shared the information with Israel. Israel then led the attack on Iranian leadership.
The operation started around 6:00 a.m. Israel time (0400 GMT). Long-range missiles hit the compound by 9:40 a.m. Khamenei stayed in a separate building nearby. Senior national security officials occupied another structure. The blasts killed Khamenei along with two key figures: Revolutionary Guards chief General Mohammad Pakpour and top adviser Ali Shamkhani. Iran’s judiciary later confirmed these losses.
Escalation and Regional Fallout
Iran responded quickly with retaliatory strikes. Missiles targeted sites across the Gulf region. Reports mention hits in Abu Dhabi and near US military bases. The exchanges raise fears of a wider war.
US President Donald Trump stated that American military actions will continue “as long as necessary.” Officials in Washington and Tel Aviv defend the strikes as necessary to counter threats. Tehran vows strong revenge and mourns its supreme leader.
This development marks a major turning point in the US-Israel-Iran confrontation. Tensions soar as both sides prepare for possible further action. The region watches closely for the next moves in this dangerous escalation.
