Israel tricked Iran into believing IDF was holidaying before attacking
What's the story
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in US and Israeli air strikes on Saturday morning along with several senior military officials, including from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Israel launched a powerful ballistic missile that traveled to the edge of space before crashing to Earth and killing Iran's unsuspecting supreme leader. A missile called the Blue Sparrow that can fly 1,240 miles and leave the Earth's atmosphere before crashing was used to kill Khamenei.
Deceptive strategy
Israel deceived Iran into believing it was safe
To execute the strike, Israel first deceived Iran into believing that it was safe for Khamenei to leave his safe house. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pretended to shut down for Shabbat celebrations, giving the impression of a weekend break. "We released photos and information suggesting that IDF staff and senior command were going home for Shabbat dinner," an official said, according to BBC. High-ranking Israeli officials were seen leaving military premises but returned in disguise to launch the operation.
Strategic impact
Iranian state media later confirmed that Khamenei had been killed
The strikes were supposed to happen at night, but the timing was reportedly changed to take advantage of a Saturday morning meeting of Tehran's top leaders. It was believed that Khamenei spent most of his evenings in a deep underground bunker to protect himself from attacks before the attack. The missile strike left several buildings within Khamenei's compound severely damaged. Iranian state media later confirmed that Khamenei had been killed along with several military figures and members of his family.
Advanced weaponry
What are Blue Sparrow missiles?
The Blue Sparrow missiles are known for their quasi-ballistic trajectory that takes them to the edge of space before re-entering Earth's atmosphere. This makes them hard to detect and intercept by conventional air-defense systems. The missiles are part of an air-launched missile series designed to replicate the Soviet Union's Scud missiles, which Iraq utilized during Gulf War. They are often fired from fighter jets, with booster rockets propelling them into space so the bombs can hover over their intended target.
Pre-strike preparations
The operation was the result of years of intelligence gathering
The operation was the result of years of intelligence gathering by Israel's elite cyber-intelligence division, Mossad and Unit 8200. They had reportedly been tracking Khamenei's security detail for decades through traffic cameras and communications networks. To ensure no warning reached the compound before the attack, Israeli cyber units disrupted mobile phone networks near Pasteur Street shortly before launching their missiles.