The Israeli military said it had destroyed a vast underground bunker in central Tehran that it claims was intended for use by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, during a large-scale air operation involving dozens of fighter jets.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said around 50 Israeli fighter aircraft took part in the strike targeting what it described as a heavily fortified underground complex planned to serve as the supreme leader’s “secure emergency command centre.”
According to the Israeli military, the bunker extended beneath multiple streets in the centre of Tehran and was designed to function as a protected command facility in the event of a major conflict. The IDF also alleged that the underground structure had continued to be used by senior officials of the Iranian regime.
The Israeli military further claimed that Khamenei had been “eliminated” before he could use the bunker, although the statement did not provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding the claim.
The strike comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran, which has already triggered widespread disruption across the Middle East, including restrictions on airspace and interruptions to civilian aviation.
There has been no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding the Israeli claims about the destruction of the bunker or the alleged death of Khamenei. Independent verification of the Israeli military’s statement was not immediately available.
