Israel-Linked Khamenei Assassination Tied to Oct. 7 Hamas Attack
TL;DR
USA TODAY reports that Israel decided to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials as part of a long-planned operation prompted by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack; the plan intensified after Israel’s 12‑day war with Iran in June 2025, with Netanyahu ordering planning in November 2025. The campaign began Feb. 28, targeting Iran’s leadership to blunt its ballistic missile program and nuclear efforts, aided by heightened US–Israel intelligence collaboration.
- Exclusive: Israel decided to kill Iran’s leader after Oct. 7 attack USA Today
- Can Trump Legally Kill Iran’s Leader? The New York Times
- Inside the US-Israel plan to assassinate Iran’s Khamenei Al Jazeera
- Opinion | Khamenei’s Unforced Errors Proved Fatal WSJ
- Intelligence assessment warns of Iranian attacks on US following Khamenei's death Reuters
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on USA Today