Israel set goal to eliminate Khamenei in November, Defence Minister Katz says

Tel Aviv: Israel had decided as early as November last year to eliminate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with the operation initially planned for around mid-2026, according to Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz.

Speaking to N12 News, Katz said the objective was set during a high-level security meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials.

"Already in November we were convened with the prime minister in a very tight forum, and the prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] set the goal of eliminating Khamenei," Katz said. He added that the operation was originally scheduled to be carried out in the middle of 2026.

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However, according to a report by The Jerusalem Post, the timeline was later accelerated after signs of domestic unrest in Iran. Israel reportedly shared the plan with Washington and advanced the operation to around January.

Katz said the decision to speed up the plan was driven by concerns that Iran’s leadership, under pressure at home, might launch attacks on Israeli and US targets across the Middle East.

The strike that killed Khamenei was carried out during the opening phase of Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury, which began on Saturday. The attack is considered the first instance of a sovereign nation’s top leader being killed in an airstrike.

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Israel has said the objective of its military campaign is to neutralise what it describes as an "existential threat" posed by Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, while also encouraging "regime change" in Tehran.

Following the killing, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) intensified their aerial operations. On Thursday, the IDF said it had completed its 12th wave of airstrikes targeting key Iranian military and security infrastructure in Tehran.

Among the targets was the headquarters of a special unit in Alborz province responsible for overseeing internal security forces.

"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," the Israeli Air Force (IAF) said in a statement.

In posts on X, the IDF said the Alborz headquarters commands special units in the region and helps coordinate the regime’s security forces. Additional targets included facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij paramilitary organisation.

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The Israeli Air Force also struck a central command centre used by Iran’s internal security forces and multiple sites believed to be involved in the storage and production of weapons.

"The IDF continues to deepen the impact on all the mechanisms of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran," the IAF said.

The escalation follows the broader conflict that erupted earlier this week. In retaliation for Khamenei’s death, Iran launched waves of drone and missile strikes across several Arab countries, targeting American military bases and Israeli assets.