How the CIA Located Ayatollah Khamenei for the US-Israeli Attack?

A high-fidelity intelligence report from The New York Times reveals how the CIA tracked Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for months before the February 28, 2026, strike. By mapping his daily habits and intercepting a high-level meeting schedule, U.S. and Israeli forces shifted to a daring daylight operation. This precision attack killed the Supreme Leader and 40 senior officials in Tehran.

By analyzing the fallout of Operation Epic Fury, and the level of detail provided by The New York Times and Reuters regarding the intelligence gathered is staggering. This wasn’t a random hit; it was a surgical removal of Iran’s top leadership.

The CIA’s “High Fidelity” Tracking

According to sources cited by The New York Times, the CIA spent months building a “high-fidelity” profile of Khamenei’s movements. They didn’t just track his vehicles; they mapped his behavioral gaps.

Intelligence officers identified a critical vulnerability in his routine: the “Five-Minute” elevator ride to his underground bunker. By understanding how the CIA located Ayatollah Khamenei for the US-Israeli Attack, analysts could predict exactly when he was above ground and exposed.

The Saturday Morning Trap

The breakthrough came when the CIA intercepted plans for a rare gathering of Iran’s political and military elite. The New York Times reports that while the U.S. and Israel initially planned a night raid, they moved the schedule forward.

They learned that Khamenei would attend a Saturday morning meeting at the leadership compound. Officials decided to strike at 9:40 a.m. to exploit this “tactical surprise.”

On Truth Social, Donald Trump confirmed that Khamenei was unable to avoid “Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems.” This aligns with reports from The Guardian, stating that signal intelligence (SIGINT) from the 2025 “12-Day War” was used to pinpoint the exact buildings.

The strike hit three separate locations within the compound simultaneously. Alongside Khamenei, IRGC Commander General Mohammad Pakpour and Ali Shamkhani were killed. This coordinated effort answers the burning question of how the CIA Located Ayatollah Khamenei for the US-Israeli Attack—through a blend of high-tech SIGINT and deep-cover human intelligence.