FT: Israeli intelligence used hacked cameras, AI in operation that killed Khamenei

Israeli intelligence agencies secretly monitored the movements of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei ahead of Operation Lion’s Roar, during which he was eliminated, sources familiar with the matter told the Financial Times.

According to the publication, nearly all traffic cameras in Tehran had been hacked for years, with their images encrypted and transmitted to servers in Tel Aviv and southern Israel. Two people familiar with the matter told the FT that one camera angle proved particularly useful, allowing operatives to determine where individuals parked their personal cars and offering insight into a routine part of the closely guarded compound.

The reported capabilities were part of a years-long intelligence campaign that paved the way for the ayatollah’s assassination. The FT said intelligence services reconstructed a detailed picture of the daily life of the Iranian leadership by tracking movements and routines and identifying key figures in their inner circle. This level of infiltration enabled planners to select what was described as the ideal moment for a precision strike on the residence.

“We took their eyes first,” one intelligence official said.

Both during the June war and in the latest operation, Israeli pilots reportedly used a specific type of missile known as the Sparrow. Variants of the missile are capable of striking a target as small as a dining table from more than 1,000 kilometres away, beyond the reach of Iran’s aerial defence systems.

The strike was carried out in daylight using 30 Sparrow missiles, providing what the report described as a tactical advantage. Cellular networks in the target area were disabled to prevent any possible response from Iranian security forces. The target’s location was confirmed by US intelligence, including information obtained from the Central Intelligence Agency.

Israel’s Mossad played a key role in the operation. According to the FT, the processing of vast amounts of data using advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence made it possible not only to predict the leader’s movements with precision, but also to minimise collateral damage.

By Sabina Mammadli