Twice is a charm: IAF again decapitates Iran’s political and military leadership

Security analysts note that this second leadership elimination is even more impressive than the first in that this time the Iranian leadership was aware of the likelihood they would be targeted.

By Hezy Laing

In the opening hour of the Roaring Lion operation in Iran yesterday, Israel again executed a decapitation strategy designed to paralyze Iran’s command and control.

This mirrored Israel’s previous Am Kelavi operation in June 2025, when it focused on the immediate elimination of both military commanders and high-ranking Iranian political figures.

Among the officials killed this time was Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In addition to Khamenei, other senior figures were also targeted, including Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iranian Chief of Staff Abdulrahim Mousawi, and Military Intelligence Chief Salah Asadi.

According to Israeli estimates, IRGC commander Mohammad Fakhrapour, who took office after June 2025’s Operation Rising Lion, was also killed in the Israeli strikes.

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Efi Defarin said in a statement to the media that in the opening strike of the war, “40 Iranian military commanders were eliminated in one minute.”

The precision of the strikes suggested deep intelligence penetration, with targets being hit in supposedly “secure” bunkers and moving convoys.

Security analysts note that this second leadership elimination is even more impressive than the first in that this time the Iranian leadership was aware of the likelihood they would be targeted and took extraordinary measures to prevent it from reoccurring.

Yet still, they failed.

According to Reuters, Israel and the USA reportedly waited several weeks until the leadership gathered to meet in Khamenei’s bunker to begin the attack, which was carried out by the IAF.