Israel kills Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in coordinated operation

Israeli forces have killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a targeted military operation last Saturday. According to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the decision to target Khamenei was made in November with an initial timeline for mid-2026, which was later accelerated to January following anti-government protests in Iran. To ensure the success of the strike, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a deception operation by simulating a weekend shutdown to lower Iranian vigilance. Israeli military leaders were seen leaving their headquarters for Shabbat celebrations while returning secretly to direct the mission. The operation involved 30 missiles, including advanced Blue Sparrow munitions, which struck the Iranian leader during a meeting at his palace. This strike marks the first time a supreme leader of Iran has been killed in an airstrike. The incident has intensified regional hostilities, resulting in subsequent Iranian retaliatory attacks against Israel, Iraq, and Gulf states, as well as ongoing Israeli military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon.