Israel Advanced Plan to Eliminate Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei, Executed in February 2026

Israel's Defense Minister stated that the decision to eliminate Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was made in November 2025, with an initial plan to carry out the strike around mid-2026. After consultations and concerns over potential Iranian retaliation amid protests, the operation was advanced to early 2026 and executed on February 28. The joint Israeli and U.S. attack killed Khamenei, triggering regional conflict involving Iranian attacks in Israel, the Gulf, and Iraq, and Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.