Goal of eliminating Khamenei set in November- Israel Katz

The Israeli government planned to eliminate Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, starting in November, with the initial goal of carrying out the mission about six months later, according to a report from The Jerusalem Post that cites Defence Minister Israel Katz. On Thursday, Katz explained that this strategic aim was set during a high-level security meeting last year. “In November, we met with the prime minister in a very focused group, and the prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] established the goal of removing Khamenei,” Katz told N12 News. He added that the operation was originally set for mid-2026. However, The Jerusalem Post reported that the timeline was moved up due to unrest within Iran. Israel shared its plan with Washington and advanced the mission around January. Katz noted that this change was due to fears that the pressured leadership in Tehran might start attacks against Israeli and U.S. interests in the Middle East. The operation took place during the early hours of Operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury, which began on Saturday. This incident is the first time a national leader has been removed through an airstrike. Israel claims its main goals are to eliminate what it sees as a serious threat from Iran's missile program and nuclear development while also aiming for “regime change.” Following the significant strike, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) ramped up their air operations. On Thursday, the IDF reported that it had completed its 12th round of strikes in Tehran, hitting important Iranian security and military sites. One key target was the headquarters of a special unit in Alborz province, which oversees all internal security forces. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) stated, “IDF Completes 12th Wave of Strikes in Tehran: Headquarters of the Iranian Terror Regime’s Special Unit in ‘Alborz’ Province Attacked, Along with Basij Forces Bases and Internal Security.” In a series of updates on X, the IDF confirmed that the Alborz headquarters controls all special units in the area and directs the armed forces of the regime. Other facilities belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij paramilitary group were also targeted.