Israeli officials say the k!lling of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, came after years of intelligence gathering, surveillance and sophisticated technological monitoring that allowed them to pinpoint his movements and execute a precision strike on his location.
According to officials cited by CNN, the operation relied heavily on an advanced intelligence system that integrated data from multiple sources, including surveillance cameras across Tehran.
One Israeli source disclosed that traffic cameras across Tehran played a crucial role in monitoring movements inside the Iranian capital.
“The traffic cameras on the streets of Tehran provided a real-time view of the targets. Hacked years ago, the cameras allowed Israel to map the city in detail, establish patterns of movement, and build an intricate picture of what was happening inside an enemy capital,” the source said.
The cameras were reportedly part of a broader surveillance architecture that fed intelligence into an artificial intelligence–driven targeting system.
Officials described the system as an AI-powered “target production machine.”
According to the report, the platform processed several forms of intelligence including visual intelligence, human intelligence, signals intelligence, intercepted communications and satellite imagery.
“Out came a pinpoint location in the form of a 14-digit grid coordinate,” the source explained.
The system, built over a decade, reportedly required teams of technologists, engineers and data analysts who validated strike recommendations generated by the AI network.
Israel had previously deployed the intelligence system to track senior Iranian officials.
During the 12-day war with Iran in June 2025, the Israel Defense Forces reportedly used the technology in its opening strike, which k!lled Iran’s highest-ranking military officer, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as a close aide to Khamenei.
The strike that k!lled Khamenei was reportedly executed on February 28, 2026, as part of a joint operation involving Israel and the United States.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Iranian leader had long been considered “untouchable” because he often sheltered in underground bunkers and avoided communication.
Before the operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with US President Donald Trump on February 11.
According to CNN, the discussions focused not on ongoing diplomatic negotiations with Iran but on possible outcomes should those talks fail.
At 3:38 p.m. Eastern Time, Trump reportedly authorised the mission.
Gen. Dan Caine, a senior US military officer, confirmed the approval, stating: “Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck. This was a daylight strike based on a trigger event conducted by the Israeli Defense Forces, enabled by the U.S. Intelligence Community.”
The operation relied on surveillance data from Tehran cameras and other intelligence sources to determine the precise moment when Khamenei would be present at his compound.
The AI-generated mapping of the compound and surrounding areas allowed planners to identify a security gap when the Iranian leader was believed to be less protected.
Multiple sources said the strike was carried out during daylight hours after monitoring communications among senior aides and security personnel.
Within hours of the attack, Israeli authorities reported early indications of success.
Confirmation later came when Iran’s state broadcaster announced: “The Supreme Leader of Iran has reached martyrdom.”
