Tel Aviv: In a striking revelation that adds a dramatic layer to the recent military flare-up between Israel and Iran, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has disclosed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei narrowly avoided an Israeli assassination attempt by fleeing into deep underground bunkers. Katz stated that during the recent 12-day aerial campaign launched by Israel, the Iranian leader deliberately went into hiding, disconnecting from his top commanders and public view, effectively shielding himself from being targeted.
The Israeli military operation, which began on June 13 and lasted until a ceasefire was declared on June 24, was marked by intense airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, missile depots, and key military personnel. According to Katz, within this strategic assault, Israel had also considered taking out Khamenei, viewing him as the “brain behind the octopus” of Iranian aggression. However, as intelligence narrowed in on possible locations, the Supreme Leader’s sudden disappearance into reinforced underground shelters made the mission unfeasible.
“Khamenei understood the threat and went underground to very great depths,” Katz said. “He did not communicate with the Revolutionary Guards or with the top echelons of the military. He disconnected from everything.” The minister added that had Israeli forces found a viable opportunity, “We would have eliminated him.”
The Iranian leader did not reappear in public until after the ceasefire, when he issued a recorded video message on June 25. This silence during the heat of the military conflict, Israeli officials argue, was not just symbolic but tactical a direct response to credible threats against his life.
U.S. officials, including former President Donald Trump, also confirmed that American intelligence had located Khamenei during the Israeli strikes but chose not to act on the information. In a social media post, Trump stated that although the U.S. was aware of the leader’s whereabouts, it was “not the time” to carry out an attack. The implication of this shared intelligence between allies indicates how close the confrontation came to a critical escalation point.
This disclosure from Katz has stirred diplomatic chatter, as it marks one of the rare moments a high-ranking Israeli official publicly admitted to contemplating a direct strike on a foreign head of state. While the Israeli government has repeatedly stated that its objective is to neutralize Iran’s military and nuclear threat not regime change this revelation suggests that even the most guarded leadership structures are within strategic focus during high-intensity conflict.
Despite the temporary truce, tensions remain high. Katz warned that Israel will continue to act against Iranian expansionism and its nuclear ambitions, asserting that “every option is on the table” if Iran resumes aggression. The evasion by Khamenei, though successful this time, has placed his vulnerability under a new light.
The incident underscores a broader shift in Middle Eastern power dynamics—where traditional lines of conflict are being replaced by high-tech intelligence, preemptive tactics, and direct targeting of national leadership. The question now is not just whether Khamenei will surface again with retaliatory intent, but whether future confrontations might cross red lines previously considered untouchable.
In the quiet after the storm, the world watches wondering if the silence from Tehran is temporary, or the calm before another, more dangerous escalation.
Source: News Agencies