Israel Targets Khamenei, Top Leaders in Bid to Bring Down Iran’s Regime/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israel carried out sweeping strikes targeting Iran’s supreme leader and senior officials. U.S. forces focused on missile systems while Israel pursued leadership targets. Officials say the operation aims to destabilize Iran’s ruling regime.
Quick Look
- Israeli Air Force strikes hit leadership compounds.
- Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reportedly targeted.
- Senior political and military officials also struck.
- U.S. attacks focused on missile infrastructure.
- Israel assessing potential casualties among top officials.
- Leaders frame operation as opening path for regime change.
Deep Look: Israel Targets Khamenei, Top Leaders in Bid to Bring Down Iran’s Regime
Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across Iran early Saturday in what officials described as a sweeping effort to target the country’s top political and military leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Israeli and U.S. officials said the operation was part of a broader joint military campaign designed to destabilize Iran’s ruling establishment, which has governed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“The goal is to create the conditions for the downfall of the Iranian regime,” one Israeli official said, adding that the ultimate outcome would depend in part on whether Iranians themselves rise up against their leaders.
Leadership in the Crosshairs
Israeli officials said strikes targeted key government and security sites, including Khamenei’s residence and main government compounds in Tehran. The campaign was described as aimed at Iran’s “entire leadership — political and military, past, present and future.”
Among those reportedly targeted were President Masoud Pezeshkian, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, senior security adviser Ali Shamkhani and former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Israeli officials said they believe Pakpour and Nasirzadeh were killed, though they cautioned that damage assessments were still underway. Officials said it could take hours before the full scope of casualties becomes clear.
Khamenei’s sons were also reportedly targeted. Initial intelligence assessments suggested they survived, according to Israeli officials.
Iranian officials separately told international media that multiple senior figures had been targeted but did not confirm casualties.
U.S. and Israeli Roles
A senior U.S. official said American forces concentrated their strikes on Iran’s missile program, including launchers and related infrastructure. Israeli strikes, officials said, focused both on the missile program and eliminating senior decision-makers.
The operation represents one of the most direct attempts to dismantle Iran’s leadership structure in decades.
Public Appeals
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement that the operation was intended to create an opening for political change within Iran.
“Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands,” Netanyahu said. He addressed various ethnic communities within Iran, urging them to “cast off the yoke of tyranny.”
President Donald Trump, in a separate statement, called on Iranians to remain indoors during the bombardment. He also encouraged citizens to seize what he described as a historic opportunity.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take,” Trump said. “This will probably be your only chance for generations.”
Uncertain Aftermath
Officials acknowledged that the operation’s ultimate impact remains uncertain. While Israel appears to be aiming for systemic disruption at the top levels of Iran’s government, much depends on how Iranian authorities respond and whether domestic unrest follows.
With assessments ongoing and retaliation expected, the strikes mark a dramatic escalation in tensions that could reshape the political landscape of the Middle Eas
You must Register or Login to post a comment.