Israel conducted airstrikes against Iran on Saturday morning, targeting top Iranian leaders including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Iranian people to seize this opportunity to create a new and free Iran.
According to reports from media outlets such as the Israel Times and CNN, insider sources revealed that the airstrikes targeted senior Iranian officials, including the highest leaders of Iran.
An Israeli official informed the Israel Times that the results of the airstrikes are currently unclear. However, Channel 12 quoted Israeli sources stating that Israel’s assessment so far shows a “very high level of success” in removing the Iranian leadership.
Reports indicated that the evaluation involved senior Iranian commanders and President Pezeshkian. It is still unclear whether Ayatollah Khamenei experienced a “significant event.”
Two Israeli sources familiar with the airstrikes disclosed to CNN that the targets included not only the top leaders and the Iranian President but also the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Sayyid Abdolrahim Mousavi.
Israeli sources mentioned that other targets included Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the newly established Iranian Defense Committee, and Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Iranian National Security Council.
It is currently unknown whether any senior Iranian officials were injured in the attacks.
The Associated Press reported that the Saturday morning attack by Israel targeted the vicinity of Ayatollah Khamenei’s office.
It remains unclear whether Ayatollah Khamenei was present in his office at that time.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the joint military operation by the United States and Israel against Iran “will create conditions for the brave Iranian people to take control of their own destiny.”
The United States named the operation “Operation Fury of the Epic,” while Israel referred to it as “Operation Roaring Lion.”
Netanyahu mentioned that the objective of the operation is to eliminate the threat posed by the Iranian leadership regime.
“Alongside the United States, we will severely strike against this terror regime. We will create conditions for the brave Iranian people to rid themselves of the burden of this murderous regime.”
He called upon the Iranian people, saying, “This is your opportunity to establish a new and free Iran, to take control of your destiny.”