Following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, intense discussion surrounds the operation’s execution. However, officials have not released detailed confirmation.
Nevertheless, experts state that Mossad and CIA built this operation over several years. They relied on deep intelligence gathering and strategic planning.
Mossad Built A Long-Term Strategy
Israel has conducted targeted killings abroad for decades. However, it had never assassinated a head of state before.
According to a Guardian report, Israeli agents tracked Khamenei for years. They compiled detailed records of his routine, family members, aides, supporters, and security personnel.
Moreover, former CIA officer Reuel Gerecht, now with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, stated that Israel created an on-ground agent network first. These agents supplied human intelligence and executed covert missions inside Iran.
Another expert explained that Mossad changed its strategy about 20 years ago. At that time, it decided to recruit local Iranian agents.
Additionally, Mossad trained these recruits for specific missions. Director David Barnea created a special unit for a “foreign squad.”
He deployed these operatives across the Middle East for targeted tasks. Experts note that recruiting agents in Iran proved easier due to opposition against the ruling regime.
Furthermore, the report stated that Israel had already planned to eliminate Khamenei last year. Analysts believe Mossad combined field intelligence with American inputs before executing the mission.
CIA Provided Crucial Location Intelligence
Meanwhile, the CIA closely monitored Iran’s top leadership for years. According to CNN, American and Israeli intelligence officers studied Khamenei’s movements carefully.
They tracked where he lived, whom he met, how he communicated, and where he sought shelter during threats. Some officials believed they could not miss this opportunity. Sources informed media that planners shifted the attack from night to daytime.
CNN reported that around 6 a.m. in Israel, fighter jets launched precise strikes on a leadership compound. That action marked the beginning of a coordinated US-Israeli campaign. Former Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin stated that observers expected a nighttime strike. They anticipated a repeat of the surprise attack that triggered the 12-day June war.
However, CIA intelligence changed the timeline. The agency informed Israeli counterparts about a Saturday morning meeting in central Tehran.
CIA officers confirmed Khamenei’s presence and shared the meeting schedule. Consequently, planners fixed the strike timing accordingly.
Mossad’s Earlier Operations Inside Iran
Over decades, Mossad built a strong network of informants and logistical assets in Iran. As a result, it executed multiple covert missions.
These operations included the remote-controlled machine gun killing of a top Iranian nuclear scientist on a highway. They also involved inserting malware into computers managing critical nuclear infrastructure. Additionally, agents stole classified nuclear documents.
In 2024, operatives placed a bomb in Ismail Haniyeh’s preferred room inside a Tehran government guesthouse.
Israel’s Previous Intent To Target Khamenei
According to Al Jazeera, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel aimed to kill Khamenei during the recent 12-day conflict.
That conflict ended with a ceasefire earlier this week.
