The CIA's meticulous surveillance of Khamenei for months culminated in a series of fatal strikes in Iran, orchestrated by Israeli and American intelligence agencies. For months, these agencies had been discreetly monitoring Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, tracking his daily routines, associates, communication methods, and potential hideouts in the event of an attack. This surveillance extended to Iran's senior political and military leaders, who rarely convened in the same location as the Ayatollah, the country's supreme leader for nearly four decades. The culmination of their efforts came over the last several days when top Iranian officials, including Khamenei, planned to meet on Saturday morning at a Tehran compound housing the offices of the Ayatollah, the Iranian presidency, and the national security apparatus. The Ayatollah, known for his cautious nature, felt less vulnerable during daylight hours and relaxed his guard. This presented an opportunity that Israeli and US officials deemed too significant to pass up. The attack plans, initially intended for a dark-of-night assault, were adjusted to a daytime strike. The Israeli military chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, addressed the air force pilots in a note, emphasizing the stakes: 'On Saturday at dawn, Operation Roaring Lion commences. You are authorized to strike your targets. We are making history. I trust you. Good luck to us all.' At around 6 a.m. in Israel, Israeli warplanes launched a coordinated wave of strikes from the US and Israel, equipped with highly accurate munitions and long-range missiles. All three sites with the various leaders at the compound were hit simultaneously. Hours later, Trump announced Khamenei's demise on social media, stating that the Ayatollah could not evade the intelligence and tracking systems, working in collaboration with Israel. The operation exposed the advanced state of Israeli and American intelligence within Iran and their readiness to act when the opportunity arose. An Israeli military official acknowledged that Israel regularly monitors the leaders of its adversaries, but the operation required additional intelligence and the integration of various elements and factors. The attack highlighted Israel's intelligence penetration in Iran, marked by the assassination of high-level military leaders and nuclear officials. However, after a 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June, the country's defense minister admitted that they had never had the operational opportunity to target Iran's supreme leader. This time, the circumstances were different. The planning for the operation had been ongoing for weeks, with Israel and the United States collaborating. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Trump during a visit to Mar-a-Lago that Iran was advancing its ballistic missile program and nuclear capabilities following a US bombing run in June. Trump expressed support for a renewed Israeli military effort to eliminate missile sites. The operation gained momentum after massive street protests erupted in Iran, leading to a deadly crackdown by the regime. Trump vowed to support the protesters, and the planning for a joint American-Israeli operation intensified. The United States, however, lacked the extensive military assets near Iran necessary for the operation and to protect American assets in the region from potential Iranian reprisals. These assets were dispatched in the following weeks, including two aircraft carriers and numerous jets, tankers, ships, and submarines. The buildup was visible to the world and Iran, providing leverage as the US pursued diplomatic talks. Meanwhile, Israeli military and intelligence officials were in Washington, coordinating and preparing for the mission. The urgency was further emphasized by a meeting between Trump and Netanyahu in Washington, which was moved up by a week to ensure Trump's commitment to the attack. Trump, despite his public insistence on continuing negotiations with Iran, privately considered the wisdom of trying to negotiate to avoid conflict. Netanyahu had expressed doubts about Iran's willingness to negotiate in good faith, while Trump aimed to exhaust diplomatic options to prevent a new war. Over the next two weeks, Trump's envoys continued talks with Iran, seeking concessions on its nuclear ambitions. However, many American officials were skeptical about achieving Trump's demands, such as a permanent end to Iranian nuclear enrichment. While Iran appeared to make concessions in three rounds of indirect talks, it was not sufficient for Trump. The administration offered options for a peaceful nuclear program, but Iran rejected a proposal for the US to provide nuclear fuel. The CIA and the White House declined to comment. The final round of talks in Geneva on Thursday led to a stalemate, with Iran refusing to dismantle its nuclear program entirely. This outcome solidified Trump's belief in the necessity of military action. On Air Force One, Trump consulted with Republicans, including Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, before the attack. Trump acknowledged the difficult decision ahead, fully aware of the targets, Iran's potential response, and the unknowns that lay ahead.
