Israel 'plotted' to kill Khamenei in war; here's how he survived

In a stunning revelation, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has disclosed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a top assassination target during the recent 12-day conflict, but evaded death by retreating deep underground.

Speaking to Israel’s Kan public broadcaster, Katz stated, “If Khamenei had been in our sights, we would have taken him out.” He added that Khamenei became unreachable by severing communication with his military commanders and hiding in heavily fortified locations. “He went very deep underground,” Katz explained, “and that made it not realistic to eliminate him.”

Active Manhunt During the War

Katz confirmed on multiple Israeli TV channels, including Channel 13, that Israeli forces actively searched for Khamenei during the conflict. “We searched a lot,” he said. While denying any agenda for regime change, he emphasized that the objective was to destabilize Iran’s leadership and weaken its regional influence.

Precision Strikes on Key Iranian Targets

The conflict, which raged from June 13 to June 25 before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, witnessed a series of intense Israeli airstrikes. These targeted and killed several high-ranking Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists. Katz asserted that the strikes were part of Israel’s policy to block Iran’s efforts to revive its nuclear and missile programs.

‘We Don’t Need Permission’: Katz

When asked whether Israel sought U.S. approval to target Khamenei, Katz firmly replied, “We don’t need permission for these things.” He likened Khamenei to Hezbollah’s former leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated last year. Katz warned, “I wouldn’t recommend he stay calm… he should learn from the late Nasrallah.”

Trump’s Role and Operation Midnight Hammer

Former U.S. President Donald Trump also raised tensions by posting a direct threat against Khamenei on June 17, stating, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding… We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.” Although he later walked back the remark, Trump authorized “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a series of surgical airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the mission a “total obliteration” that significantly damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. “It was a total success,” she claimed, citing reports from U.S. intelligence and even acknowledgements from Iran and the UN.

Ceasefire Brings Temporary Calm

Following the June 25 ceasefire, Katz confirmed that Israel has no current plans to pursue Khamenei. “There’s a difference before the ceasefire and after the ceasefire,” he said, though he warned of strong retaliation if provoked again. He also asserted that while Israel hasn’t located all of Iran’s enriched uranium, the airstrikes have delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions “by long years.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. remains committed to diplomacy, with talks planned between American and Iranian officials. Washington aims to shift Iran toward a “non-enrichment civil nuclear program” with help from mediators like Qatar.