Top US Intelligence guides Israel strike that kills Iran's Khamenei

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top officials were killed in a targeted Israeli strike on Tehran’s government compound, following intelligence reportedly provided by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), according to multiple international reports.

The strike, carried out around 6:00am on Saturday (Israeli time), involved 30 bombs dropped by Israeli warplanes, devastating the compound. Tehran time reports place the impact at 9:40am.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the CIA had been monitoring Khamenei’s movements for several months, identifying critical meetings at the Presidency Office, the Supreme Leader’s office, and the National Security Council.

This intelligence, described as “highly precise,” was shared with Israel, enabling the meticulously planned attack.

Amos Yadlin, former head of Israeli military intelligence, said the strike timing was adjusted from nighttime to daytime to maximize strategic surprise.

Officials killed alongside Khamenei include Ali Shamkhani, head of the Iranian Military Council; Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps; Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh; and other senior military and security figures.

Turkiye Today noted that the operation reflects the effectiveness of US and Israeli intelligence monitoring and exposes vulnerabilities in Iran’s top leadership security protocols.

Further international reactions are expected as regional tensions escalate in the aftermath of the strike.