Ever since America and Israel attacked Iran, the top leadership is disappearing. The process that started from Khamenei reached Majid Khadami. Iran proved unsuccessful in protecting its own leaders. No matter how many bombs they bomb or launch missiles, their failure is clearly evident. After all, how are America and Israel entering and attacking Iran and why is Iran not able to stop it? Let’s understand in the explainer…
Question 1: Which top leaders of Iran have America and Israel killed so far?
answer: The joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began on 28 February 2026 were named Operation Epic Fury. In this, Iran’s military and political leadership is being targeted. These are ‘decapitation strikes’ i.e. beheading attacks. Till now 25-30 top leaders have died, including:
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: Supreme Leader. America killed a person by bombing his house, the war started with this attack.
- Ali Shamkhani: Khamenei’s close advisor and security policy architect.
- Mohammad Pakpur: IRGC commander.
- Aziz Nasirzadeh: Defense Minister.
- Ali Larijani: Head of the National Security Council, who was running the country after Khamenei.
- Ismail Khatib: Intelligence Minister.
- Ghulamreza Sulemani: Commander of Basij Force.
- Major General Majid Khadmi: IRGC Intelligence Chief
Israel has confirmed the death of these leaders and said that this trend will continue. Due to this, Iran’s command structure has been badly broken.
Question 2: How are America and Israel killing Iranian top leaders?
answer: According to the New York Times report, the location of Iranian leaders is tracked with the help of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and American CIA. Whether he is holding a meeting in Tehran or hiding in a safe place. These attacks are not random, but the result of years of planning:
- Joint Intelligence of CIA and Mossad: The American CIA tracked the location of Khamenei and other leaders for months. Traffic cameras were hacked and real-time movement was seen. ‘Pattern of life’ analysis was done from satellite imagery, intercepted communications and human intelligence i.e. agents inside Iran.
- Israel’s AI target production machine: Mossad used AI to process thousands of data points, such as videos, phones and spy reports. This revealed the exact meeting points of the leaders.
- Cyber Warfare: Before the attack, American and Israeli cyber commands blinded Iran’s communications. Hacked radar, phone and radio systems.
- Internal Assets: Mossad inserted micro-drones and local agents inside Iran. In some strikes, these drones destroy radar and missile systems from inside.
- Timing: The CIA shared real-time intel of Khamenei’s meeting, allowing the timing of the strike to be changed to a surprise attack. Israel has made it a policy to ‘target leaders one by one’.
Israel has said, ‘Iran’s leaders will be targeted one by one.’ Trump himself praised these attacks and said, ‘With our intelligence and together with Israel, no one can escape us.’ These attacks are not limited to just military bases, but the aim is to break Iran’s command chain by eliminating the leadership.
Question 3: Why doesn’t Iran know about these attacks? Where is the mistake after all?
answer: Foreign expert and retired JNU professor A. Of. Pasha says that Iran’s air defense system was already weak. There was a lot of damage in the Israeli attacks in 2025. America-Israel have already destroyed Iran’s radar network, air defense systems like S-300/S-400 and air force to a great extent. Now they control Iran’s skies, but not completely.
A. Of. Pasha says, ‘The security protocol of Iran’s leaders is old. They gather in meetings, due to which the pattern of movements is repeated. Mossad agents have penetrated deep into Iran, so local intelligence fails. Due to cyber attacks, Iranian commanders do not get real-time alerts. As a result, the leader dies as soon as the attack occurs, before the defense system can react.’
According to the report of the American Hudson Institute, Iran’s biggest lapse is in internal security:
- Mossad-CIA infiltration: There are high-level spies inside Iran. Mossad had recruited local agents 20 years ago.
- Communications Security Fail: Leaders’ phones, meetings and movements are intercepted.
- Old system of air defense: Radar and missile sites have already been destroyed in the attacks of 2025-26. It is not able to match the new technology i.e. AI and hypersonic missiles.
- Over-confidence of leaders: Instead of hiding, they keep holding routine meetings. Khamenei’s compound was also tracked through satellite and spies.
- Strategic Mistake: Iran extended the attacks to Gulf countries, which gave more excuse to America and Israel. The Intelligence Community had already warned that the leadership would be the target if attacked, but preparations remained weak.
Question 4: Has Iran retaliated by killing top leaders of America or Israel?
answer: No. In this war that started on February 28, 2026, Iran has not killed any top leader of America or Israel. No report confirms this. There has been no successful ‘decapitation strike’ from Iran i.e. an attack targeting the top leadership.
Question 5: Then how is Iran threatening America and Israel?
answer: Iran did not wage a direct ‘eye for an eye’ war. It chose asymmetric warfare, that is, it attacked not its own weak point, but the enemy’s strongest point (oil, economy and Gulf allies). By closing the Strait of Hormuz from 28 February 2026, attacking Gulf energy hubs and through proxy groups, Iran has put America and Israel under pressure at the global level. Result: Oil prices increased by 60%, global inflation increased and America’s allies are screaming.