Operation Roaring Lion was launched on Shabbos morning with a surprise strike after military intelligence identified two locations in Tehran where top figures of Iran’s security leadership had convened.

A senior Israeli official confirmed on Motzei Shabbos that Supreme Ali Khamenei had been killed in the opening strikes.

Later on Motzei Shabbos, the IDF confirmed that seven senior Iranian defense officials were also eliminated in the strikes.

Ali Shamkhani—Secretary of the Defense Council, a central figure in Iran’s security decision-making process, and a close security adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Mohammad Pakpour—Commander of the Revolutionary Guards since Operation Rising Lion and a leading figure in the “plan to destroy Israel.” He oversaw Iran’s main military force, oversaw missile and drone attacks against Israel, supported Iran’s proxy groups, and led the violent suppression of Iranian protesters in the internal protests last month.

Salah Asadi—Chief of Intelligence of Iran’s military emergency command and the senior intelligence officer of Iran’s top military staff. He helped formulate Iran’s strategy against Israel and the United States and was deeply involved in the “plan to destroy Israel.”

Mohammad Shirazi—Chief of Khamenei’s military bureau since 1989.

Aziz Nasirzadeh—Served as defense minister and previously held several key roles, including commander of the Iranian Air Force and deputy chief of the armed forces general staff. He oversaw industries producing long-range missiles and weapons transferred to regime proxies, as well as the SPND organization, which advanced nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons projects.

Hossein Jabal Amelian—Chairman of the SPND organization, responsible for developing advanced technologies and weapons for the regime, including projects related to nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.

Reza Motaferri-Nia—Former chairman of SPND, who promoted nuclear weapons development efforts.

(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)