Just before the US and Israel prepared to launch an attack on Iran, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) identified the location of its most important target: Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The CIA had been tracking Khamenei for months to gain confidence in his location and movement patterns, according to sources familiar with the operation, as reported by the New York Times.

The CIA knew that a meeting of high-ranking Iranian officials would take place on the morning of March 28th at Supreme Leader Khamenei’s complex in central Tehran. Most importantly, the CIA obtained information that the Supreme Leader would be present at this location.

Therefore, the US and Israel decided to adjust the timing of the attack to take advantage of this newly received intelligence.

That precise information opened the door for the two allies to achieve a crucial objective: eliminating high-ranking Iranian officials and Supreme Leader Khamenei.

The incredible speed of the offensive demonstrated close coordination and intelligence sharing between the U.S. and Israel, as well as the extent of their penetration into the Iranian leadership.

The operation also highlighted the failure of Iranian leaders to take adequate precautions to avoid information leaks, in the context of both Israel and the U.S. sending clear signals that they were preparing for war.