by Shir Perets, James Genn, Tobias Holcman, IDF Spokesman
Preliminary assessment: Supreme leader likely hurt in Israeli strike • Netanyahu says objective to end Ayatollah's regime • Trump confirms US operation in Iran, tells IRGC to lay down arms
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been cut off from contact, and there is no certainty about his fate, Israeli officials told Walla on Saturday afternoon. Iranian officials promised to release a recording from Khamenei soon after Israeli strikes targeted his Tehran compound.
The preliminary assessment among Israeli officials was that Khamenei was hurt in the strike. No official confirmation has been received by Israeli, American, or Iranian sources.
The strikes came as Israel and the United States launched an attack on Iran, with Iranian state media reporting explosions heard in Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Karaj.
Which Iranian officials died in the stikes?
Iran's Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour are believed to have been killed in Israeli attacks, two sources familiar with Israel's military operations and one regional source said.
Israeli and Iranian sources said earlier on Saturday that strikes on Iran killed several senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders and Islamic Regime political officials.
Iran International reported that the strikes killed four senior Iranian intelligence commanders: Javad Pourhossein, head of the foreign intelligence unit; Mohammad-Reza Bajestani, head of the security unit; Ali Kheirandish, head of the counterterrorism unit; and Saeed Ehya Hamidi, adviser on the war with Israel.
Additionally, Reuters reported that at least three members of Iran's IRGC-linked Basij paramilitary forces were killed in the Israeli-US attacks.
A member of the Tehran City Council said that Khamenei's son-in-law and daughter-in-law were both killed in strikes.
Iran's Security Council instructed residents of Tehran, as well as other major cities, to stay in safe, protected locations until further notice.
گزارشها و تصاویر دریافتی از 'شنیده شدن صدای چند انفجار و دیده شدن دود در #تهران، شنبه ۹ اسفند'#Iran #Tehran pic.twitter.com/tIk5yAITCA
— Vahid Online (@Vahid) February 28, 2026
IDF: We struck an advanced SA-65 aerial defense system
Shortly after 4 p.m., the IDF said it had completed a broad strike on the strategic Defense system of the Iranian regime, noting that it successfully struck an advanced air defense system.
"One of the strikes was directed toward an advanced SA-65 aerial defense system located in the Kermanshah area in western Iran," the IDF said.
The IDF said later on Saturday evening that it was conducting another flyover aimed at striking missile launchers across Iran to thwart the threat posed to Israel.
Meanwhile, security forces blocked roads in the Tehran area that is home to the offices of Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and parliament, witnesses said. Earlier on Saturday, an Iranian official told Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a "secure location." Satellite imagery showed the destroyed complex where Khamenei was reportedly being guarded.
Iranian media reported strikes targeting the IRGC's intelligence headquarters, as well as explosions in central Tehran. The country has closed its airspace in response to the strikes. A US official also told Reuters American strikes in Iran were "underway," adding that strikes against Iran are being carried out by air and sea.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said to NBC Live that the regime may have "lost a few commanders, but that's not such a big problem." He also said, "As far as I know, Khamenei is still alive."
Netanyahu: Goal is to remove Ayatollahs from power
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement, saying that the aim of the operation was to remove the Ayatollah's regime from power.
The operation "will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands," he said. "The time has come for all sections of the people in Iran... to remove the yoke of tyranny from (the regime) and bring a free and peace-loving Iran," he added.
"For 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has called for 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America.' It has spilled our blood, murdered many Americans, and massacred its own people," Netanyahu said, while thanking US President Trump for his "historic friendship."
"This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity," he added.
"The time has come for all segments of the Iranian people - Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Balochis, and Ahwazis - to rid themselves of the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-seeking Iran," Netanyahu stated, mentioning the largest ethnic groups across Iran.
"We shall stand together, fight together, and ensure the eternity of Israel together," he concluded.
Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi also issued a similar statement, while also calling on Iranian military and police officers to aid anti-regime activity and depose the Islamic Regime.
IDF, US military striking across western Iran
The IDF issued a statement, confirming the name of the operation as "Roaring Lion," which was launched to "thoroughly degrade the Iranian terrorist regime and to remove existential threats to the State of Israel over time."
The Israeli and US strikes targeted dozens of military targets as part of a broad, coordinated, joint operation against the regime.
"The regime has not abandoned its plan to destroy Israel. In recent months, and despite the severe blow it sustained during Operation Rising Lion, the IDF identified that the regime continued efforts to advance production, fortify, and conceal its nuclear program, alongside rehabilitating its missile production processes," the military continued.
"Additionally, the regime has continued financing, training, and arming proxies positioned on Israel's borders, posing an existential threat to Israel, and a danger to the Middle East, and the rest of the world," it added.
"In the months preceding the strike, close and joint planning was conducted between the IDF and the US military, enabling the execution of the broad strike in full synchronization and coordination between the two militaries. The IDF, across all its branches, carried out a meticulous and long-term preparation process for this operation, both in defensive systems and in various offensive plans," the military confirmed.
IDF chief Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and other commanders are conducting a situational assessment, the military stated, adding that the Israel Air Force is continuing strikes against Iran.
This includes IAF strikes on a number of military targets belonging to the Iranian regime in western Iran.
An Israeli military official stated that the IDF targeted "essential personnel who are part of Iran's plan to destroy Israel.
Israel went into a state of emergency Saturday morning as the IDF sent a national warning to all citizens to stay near protected spaces.
"This is a proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the State of Israel," the IDF said.
Iranian officials said Tehran is preparing for a retaliatory attack. "Tehran is preparing for retaliation; the response will be crushing," the officials said, according to Reuters. Sirens later sounded across northern Israel at approximately 10 a.m. and across central Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, at approximately 10:30 a.m., as Iranian missile launches were detected.
A rocket impacted in northern Israel, a Magen David Adom source told Walla.
Some of the missiles were launched from Lebanon, a security source told Walla, but the IDF denied this.
Mossad launched a Farsi-language Telegram channel for Iranians to follow news updates on Saturday morning, calling out to "Our Iranian brothers and sisters," saying that "you are not alone."
"We have launched a super secure and special Telegram channel for you [and] together we will return Iran to its glorious days," Mossad wrote.
IDF issues evacuation warning for Iranians near military facilities
The IDF issued an urgent evacuation warning for any Iranians "inside or in the vicinity of military weapons production factories and military infrastructure facilities," due to ongoing Israeli and US airstrikes against the Iranian regime on Saturday morning.
"You are located near weapons and military facilities that are considered dangerous," the military warned, publishing the message in English.
"Dear [Iranian] citizens, for your safety and well-being, we urge you to immediately evacuate these areas and remain outside of them until further notice," the IDF stated.
"Your presence in these locations puts your lives at risk," the military emphasized.
An Israeli security official told Reuters that the operation was planned for months and its timing was set several weeks ago.
Sources in the defense establishment stated one of the objectives of the strikes will be to "remove threats to the Israeli home front, with an emphasis on missile launchers and unmanned aerial vehicle bases."
Smoke was seen billowing above Bahrain's Juffair area, housing a US Navy base, witnesses told Reuters on Saturday morning.
The US Embassy in Bahrain urged citizens to shelter in place while citing media reports of threats of missiles and drones over Bahraini airspace.
The Bahraini Interior Ministry later confirmed that a warning alarm siren had been activated, with citizens and residents requested to head to the nearest safe place.
A source living in Manama, Bahrain, confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that blasts were heard in the area. Bahrain hosts the US Central Command's 5th Fleet.
Additionally, the US Embassy in Qatar implemented shelter-in-place for all personnel, recommending that all of its citizens do the same until further notice.
Later on Saturday, loud blasts were also heard in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, witnesses said.
An Iraqi site associated with Iran-backed Shiite militias was reportedly struck by an Israeli missile, according to Iraqi outlet Shafaq News on Saturday.
The site, in the Jurf al-Sakhr area, specifically targeted the headquarters of Kataib Hezbollah (KH), part of the Popular Mobilization Forces.
According to the outlet, the attack resulted in two deaths and eight injuries.
KH is an influential, powerful militia closely linked to the IRGC. Then-KH leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was in the car with then-IRGC-Quds Force leader and arch-terrorist Qasem Soleimani when they were both killed by a US airstrike in Baghdad in January 2020.
This is a developing story. Seth J. Frantzman, Danielle Greyman-Kennard, Tobias Siegal, Amir Bohbot, and Yoav Etiel contributed to this report.
Shir Perets, James Genn, Tobias Holcman, IDF Spokesman
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-888248
No comments:
Post a Comment