According to The New York Times, the U.S. intelligence agency (CIA) had been tracking the movements, habits, and frequented locations of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for several months.
This surveillance allowed analysts to identify regular movement patterns and gain a clearer picture of his routines and possible places of presence.
Identification of a Major Meeting in Tehran
U.S. services later learned that Khamenei was scheduled to attend a high‑level meeting with several senior political and military officials at a government complex in Tehran.
Intelligence indicated that the Supreme Leader would indeed be present at that specific location and time—a rare opportunity for a targeted action.
Coordination with Israeli Forces
Once the location was confirmed, the United States passed the information to Israeli services, strengthening coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv.
This sharing enabled the major military powers involved to adjust the timing and modalities of the planned operation, opting for a daylight strike rather than a night attack to coincide with the meeting.
Execution of the Joint Operation
Thanks to what were described as “high‑precision” intelligence, the joint operation could be meticulously planned to hit the exact complex where Khamenei and other leaders were gathered.
Airstrikes and guided missiles struck the identified buildings, killing the Supreme Leader and several senior Iranian officials, according to information released by Iran and U.S. sources.
