Trending Now - CIA Tracked Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei for Months — Intel Helped US, Israel Time Strike During Meeting: Report

WHO:

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: Iranian Supreme Leader, killed on February 28, 2026.

Masoud Pezeshkian: Iran's interim President, named as one of three interim leaders.

President Trump: Confirmed Khamenei's death and referred to him as “one of the most evil people in history.”

Ali Larijani: Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, stated a leadership council would be established.

Elliot Ackerman: American author and former CIA Special Activities Officer, commented on the risks following Khamenei's death.

Rick Crawford: Chair of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, discussed ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Benjamin Netanyahu: Israeli Prime Minister, confirmed strikes on Khamenei's compound.

Abdolrahim Mousavi: Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff, killed in the strikes.

Ali Shamkhani: Secretary of the Iranian Security Council, killed in the strikes.

Aziz Nasirzadeh: Iranian Defense Minister, killed in the strikes.

Marco Rubio: U.S. Secretary of State, stated the U.S. did not target Khamenei.

WHAT:

Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli operation called “Operation Epic Fury.”

Approximately 40 senior Iranian officials were killed in the strikes.

The strikes were described as a “tactical surprise” and involved simultaneous attacks on multiple targets.

President Trump stated, “THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”

Iranian state media reported over 150 casualties from Israeli strikes, including children.

Protests erupted in Iran and other countries in response to the strikes.

WHERE:

Tehran, Iran: Location of Khamenei's compound and the strikes.

University of Tehran: Site of Khamenei's funeral.

Baghdad, Iraq: Site of protests against the U.S. embassy.

Karachi, Pakistan: Location where security forces killed eight protesters.

Muscat, Oman: U.S. Embassy warned staff to shelter in place.

WHEN:

February 28, 2026: Date of Khamenei's death and the U.S.-Israeli strikes.

March 1, 2026: Date of Khamenei's funeral and various news reports.

Early morning on February 28, 2026: Time of the strikes, around 6 a.m. in Israel.

WHY:

The strikes were a response to Khamenei's leadership and Iran's actions against the U.S. and Israel.

President Trump indicated the strikes were part of a broader strategy to eliminate threats from the Iranian regime.

HOW:

The CIA tracked Khamenei's movements for months, leading to the decision to strike during a meeting of senior officials.

Israeli warplanes conducted the strikes using highly accurate munitions and long-range missiles.

The operation was planned in coordination between U.S. and Israeli military officials.

In a significant escalation in the Middle East, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, during a joint U.S.-Israeli operation known as “Operation Epic Fury,” which also resulted in the deaths of approximately 40 senior Iranian officials. Following Khamenei's death, Masoud Pezeshkian has been named as Iran's interim President, while President Trump confirmed the operation and referred to Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in history,” warning of severe consequences if Iran retaliates. Protests erupted across Iran and in other countries, with reports of over 150 casualties from the strikes, prompting heightened security measures at U.S. embassies in the region.