Israel Decided to Kill Iran’s Leader After Oct. 7 Attack
In the wake of the October 7th Hamas attack, Israel made the decision to eliminate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, viewing him as the primary architect of the assault. This strategic objective, along with the disruption of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, culminated in a joint U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign that began on February 28th. The operation, codenamed “Operation Roaring Lion” by Israel and “Epic Fury” by the United States, targeted Khamenei and other high-ranking Iranian officials, marking a significant escalation in response to the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Detailed planning for this operation commenced after Israel’s twelve-day conflict with Iran in June 2025, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu giving the final order in November of that year.