03.03.2026 02:11
Details have emerged regarding the attack by the United States and Israel that resulted in the death of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei. It has been determined that U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies closely monitored Khamenei for months prior to the operation and viewed the gathering of high-ranking officials at the same location as an "opportunity." Due to the observation process revealing that Khamenei felt safer during the day and relaxed his security protocols, the attack, which was originally planned for nighttime, was moved to the morning.
It has been determined that the intelligence agencies of the United States and Israel closely monitored Iranian leader Ali Khamenei for months before the operation and assessed the gathering of senior officials at the same location as an "opportunity."
DAILY ROUTINE MONITORED, WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME
According to a report by CNN based on five officials knowledgeable about the operation, U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), scrutinized Khamenei's daily routine, the people he met, his communication methods, and potential locations he could retreat to in case of an attack for a long time.
Officials stated that the intelligence agencies not only followed Khamenei but also tracked Iran's senior political and military officials, noting that the rare gathering of these individuals at the same place led to waiting for the right time.
REASON FOR THE ATTACK TO BE CARRIED OUT IN THE MORNING: KHAMENEI FEELS SAFER DURING THE DAY
Officials reported that intelligence determined Khamenei felt safer during the day and relaxed his security protocols at those hours during the surveillance process, which is why the attack, normally planned for the night, was shifted to the morning hours.
Officials emphasized that the planning of separate meetings by Iranian senior officials at different points in the leadership office, presidential, and national security units in Tehran on Saturday morning was assessed as an "opportunity" from an intelligence perspective.
PREPARATION PROCESS PICKED UP SPEED AT MAR-A-LAGO
According to information obtained from security sources, the preparation process for the operation gained momentum with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to U.S. President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in December 2025.
During the meeting, Netanyahu shared intelligence that Iran was advancing its ballistic missile program and attempting to revive its nuclear capacity. Trump pledged to support military moves targeting Israel's missile facilities during this meeting.
U.S.-ISRAEL'S ATTACKS ON IRAN
While negotiations continued between the Tehran and Washington administrations, Israel and the U.S. launched a military attack on Iran on February 28. Iran responded with attacks on targets it identified in several regional countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, where U.S. bases are located, in addition to Israel. In the U.S.-Israel attacks, many senior officials, including Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed. The Iranian Red Crescent reported that 201 people lost their lives and 747 were injured in the bombings targeting the country.