The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed on Friday that they have successfully dismantled what was once the underground bunker of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. This operation marks a significant achievement for the IDF and highlights ongoing tensions in the region.

According to an IDF statement, the bunker served as a strategic base for military activities and the propagation of extremist ideologies aimed at Israel and the Western world. The expansive compound stretched across several streets in Tehran and was equipped with multiple entrances and meeting rooms designed for high-ranking members of the Iranian regime.

In a bid to provide transparency and detail, Israel shared an illustrated video that depicted numerous entry points across Tehran, all leading to the now-defunct bunker. This visual representation underscores the bunker’s previous importance and complexity.

The operation, known as Epic Fury, reportedly took place on a Saturday morning, during which almost 50 regime leaders, including Khamenei, were targeted. A senior Israeli official informed Fox News that the strike was executed in under 50 seconds, a testament to the precision of the operation.

Khamenei had invested millions of dollars and several years in constructing the bunker, yet he was not present at the time of the IDF’s decisive action. Intelligence sources suggest that Khamenei was confident that no one would dare to attack him, a belief that ultimately proved mistaken.

The official said that Khamenei spent millions of dollars and a number of years building the bunker, which he did not use on the morning of the strike. Sources familiar with the intelligence say that Khamenei believed no one had the guts to strike him.

The senior Israeli official told Fox News that Khamenei’s confidence was partially thanks to an Israeli-American deception plan that included messaging, signals and public statements by President Donald Trump that suggested nothing immediate was coming. Top IDF commanders even went home on Friday night, hours before the strike, in an attempt to deceive Iranian leadership.

President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.  (The White House via X Account/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Khamenei was killed on the first day of Operation Epic Fury after ruling the Islamic Republic for more than 30 years. During that time, he oversaw harsh internal crackdowns, including the most recent one in January, which targeted Iranian protesters, as well as international confrontations.

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