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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Was Iran's Khamenei on Israel's ‘Red Wedding' hit list? Israeli Defence minister's chilling admission hints so
The 'Red Wedding' begins Live Events Inside the plot: Trickery and timing Trump's bunker-busters Khamenei's defiant reappearance Israel's warning after the guns fell silent No regime change, yet talks ahead (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Israel wanted Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dead. Defence Minister Israel Katz left little doubt when he spoke on national television after the guns fell silent. 'I estimate that if Khamenei had been in our sights, we would have taken him out,' Katz told Kan TV. He said Iran's Supreme Leader 'understood this, went very deep underground and broke off contacts with the commanders… so in the end it wasn't realistic.'Katz repeated the message to Channel 13: 'We searched a lot.' His admission marks Israel's first clear statement that removing Iran's highest cleric was an active goal during the war. The aim was not regime change, he insisted, but to fracture Tehran's chain of command while bombs Israeli Air Force called its opening assault ' Red Wedding ' — a nod to the infamous massacre in Game of Thrones where trusted leaders were cut down at a wedding 13 June, more than 200 Israeli warplanes pounded 100 targets across Iran. According to the Wall Street Journal , this single strike killed nine top nuclear scientists before dawn. Among the dead were General Hossein Salami of the Revolutionary Guard , General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's Chief of Staff, and Gholam Ali Rashid, the emergency commander.A giant billboard in Tehran now bears their faces — reminders of how one night turned Iran's leadership upside strikes were planned for months. Israeli spies smuggled drone parts into Iran in shipping containers and trucks. Mossad teams hid explosive quadcopters near key missile sites and air missions in Greek skies, and real-life raids on Houthi targets in Yemen, sharpened the Israeli Air Force's long-range skills. All that practice came together on one carefully chosen to Daily MailOnline, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even faked his son Avner's wedding to mislead Iranian watchers. He leaked a false feud with President Trump to suggest hesitation in Washington. In truth, Netanyahu had signed off on the airstrikes on 9 gamble nearly fell apart when word leaked to Tehran. But Iranian commanders, instead of scattering, gathered for what they thought was a crisis meeting. That sealed their fate.'Rather than scattering, they gathered — sealing their fate,' wrote the Wall Street Journal, quoting Israeli Israel's jets roared over Tehran, US President Trump made his own threats public. On 17 June, he wrote on Truth Social, 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding… We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.'Yet behind the scenes, the US was preparing its own the same night as Israel's attacks, Trump ordered Operation Midnight Hammer — precision strikes with B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles targeting three major Iranian nuclear sites. The aim was to crack open deep-buried bunkers Iran had built over decades. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed, 'It was a total success… Not only does our own intelligence say that, but even the Iranian foreign minister and the United Nations agreed.'Trump later signalled that back-channel talks could follow. 'Do the deal,' he posted online. The White House said negotiations for a 'non-enrichment civil nuclear programme' might start soon with help from Qatar.A leaked US report, however, suggests some uranium might have been moved beforehand. Trump brushed that off: 'Nothing was taken out… too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!' he said in an online Supreme Leader vanished just as the missiles struck. The Associated Press reported he did not appear in public for days. He re-emerged only when the ceasefire was sealed on 25 June, posting a recorded video on Iranian state TV.'The Islamic Republic emerged victorious and delivered a harsh slap to America's face,' Khamenei declared. On his official X account, he called Israel a 'fallacious Zionist regime' that was 'crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic.'He boasted Iran's retaliatory missile strike on the US base at Al-Udeid in Qatar 'delivered a heavy slap to the US's face.' But images of smoking bunkers and flattened research sites told another confirmed the hunt for Khamenei has ended for now. Speaking to Channel 13, he said: 'There's a difference — before the ceasefire, after the ceasefire.'He advised Iran's top cleric to stay underground. 'I wouldn't recommend that he stay tranquil. He should learn from the late Nasrallah, who sat for a long time deep in the bunker. I recommend that he do the same thing.'Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, was killed in an Israeli strike last year — another sign Israel's assassinations reach beyond its also admitted Israel still does not know where all of Iran's enriched uranium is hidden. But he insisted the attacks had set back Tehran's nuclear ambitions 'by long years.'Trump's message has shifted too. Despite the bunker-busters, he insists a deal is possible. The White House says talks may soon restart, with Qatar acting as said, 'The US remains focused on diplomacy and peace.' But Iranian officials deny any plan to return to the table for Azizi from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs summed up Tehran's problem: 'There must be some sort of purge. But who will implement it? That is the question.'Twelve days of air raids ended with bombed-out bunkers and dead generals, but no regime collapse. Israel's gamble exposed Iran's weak air defences and the depth of its infiltration. For Tel Aviv, the message is clear: they can strike again if needed — with or without Katz told Channel 13, 'We don't need permission for these things.'The Red Wedding may be over, but its aftershocks are only beginning.
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Red Wedding: Israel's ‘Game of Thrones' style mission that wiped out Iran's security, nuclear top brass
The fantasy novel series 'The Chronicles of Narnia' and the iconic 'Red Wedding' from the Game of Thrones -- Israel's huge blow to Iran's nuclear and military establishment as well as top security officials in Iran was peppered with pop culture references. Inside 'Operation Narnia,' the Daring Attack Israel Feared It Couldn't Pull Off In a midnight operation by Israel on June 13, more than 30 senior Iranian security officials were killed. The mission, dubbed 'Red Wedding,' aimed to eliminate Iran's top military leadership in one devastating blow — a reference to the infamous massacre scene in popular series Game of Thrones. The elaborate plans that went behind this operation reportedly date back to decades, include a sabotage plan, a spy network in Iran and the setting up of drone bases that would cripple Iran's air defence systems in future. Another simultaneous strike, part of a second operation known as 'Operation Narnia', took out nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists at their homes in Tehran — a plan so audacious that its planners named it after the fictional CS Lewis series. A Wall Street Journal report details accounts of many former US and Israeli officials, shedding light on how Israel aimed at a double whammy for Iran. Decades of planning, one deadly night Israel identified Iran's nuclear weapons program in the mid-90s and had placed many agents in Iran as part of its ambitions to wipe out the nuclear establishments. Israel soon realised that it was important to hurt Iran through the air, but that was a slippery slope. The targets Israel planned to attack were over 1,000 miles away, which meant its pilots would require intense training on how to position multiple aircraft in the air so the missile struck within 20 seconds of each other for maximum impact, and also understand how would refueling take place in the air. The refusal of PM Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet ministers to the Iran attack plans given the US's more diplomatic approach back then, and the inaccessibility of the Syrian airspace due to a heavy Iranian influence back then, also posed problems for Israel. However, things changed in the two years following the October 7 Hamas attack. Israel dealt a huge blow Iran's proxies -- Hamas in Gaza, the Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. With Syria's Bashar Al-Assad regime toppled in December last year and an anti-Iranian regime replacing it, the Israeli planes' flying problem was also solved. A ruse, then attack An elaborate ruse played out by Israel, reminiscent of the 'Red Wedding' in Game of Thrones series, led to the killing of more than 30 senior Iran security officials on June 13, damaging the country's aerial defences and destabilising its ability to respond in the early hours of the conflict. However, the midnight attack plan was finalised four days ago on June 9, even as Israeli officials played out in the media that they were having differences with the US on the Iran attack plans, the WSJ report said. Even on the day of the attack, June 13, US President Donald Trump suggested that he didn't want the Israelis 'going in", and that an agreement between the US and Iran was almost done. All the while, Benjamin Netanyahu's office maintained that he would taking the weekend off for his eldest son's wedding on June 16. But, not even Netanyahu's family knew that he had planned to delay the ceremony. 'We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue!" Trump had posted when Israel was getting its jets ready for the attack on Iran. Did the cover blow? Once Israel finalised the attack plans, Mossad agents covertly transported components for hundreds of explosive-laden quadcopter drones into Iran, using suitcases, trucks, and shipping containers to avoid detection. Small, covert teams equipped with the drones positioned themselves near key Iranian air-defense systems and missile launch sites, so they could neutralise the defence systems after Israel attacked. In the final moments before execution, Israel's plans, effectively planned over decades, almost failed, as it noticed Iran's air force scrambling. However, to Israel's surprise, Iranian officials gathered in one place, making it easier for Israel to take them out at once. Israel understood that crippling the nuclear establishments alone would not be sufficient, and that it was important to wipe the brains out behind them. Hence, an 'Operation Narnia', codenamed based on the CS Lewis-authored book series was in also place, bombing nuclear scientists' homes in Tehran. According to news agency Reuters, 11 senior nuclear scientists were killed. Israel carried out simultaneous attacks giving them no chance to go into hiding. Israel's 'kill list' was prepared in November 2024 with 120 intelligence and air force officials listing 250 targets, including nuclear scientists, Iranian missile launchers and military officials. Iran's nuclear establishments, including its Isfahan enrichment plant, were hit by Israeli strikes, and later two more of its sites - Fordow and Natanz, were bombed by the US. However, the total damage to these sites is yet to be ascertained.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Inspired by Game of Thrones, Israel's deadly Red Wedding operation took out 30 Iran generals in minutes
Inside Israel's Operation Red Wedding that Killed 30 Top Iranian Generals in Minutes- Israel's Operation Red Wedding has shocked the world with its speed, strategy, and deadly precision. Launched on June 13, the operation saw Israel eliminate 30 senior Iranian military officials in just the first few minutes of a 12-day war. This bold strike, part of a larger campaign known as Operation Rising Lion, was a preemptive move to neutralize Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities before they could pose a greater threat. Here's a detailed breakdown of the operation, how it unfolded, and what it means for the future of Middle East security. How did Operation Red Wedding begin and what was Israel's real plan? Israel launched Operation Red Wedding as part of a wider military effort under Operation Rising Lion. The plan was carefully crafted to deal a major blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions and military leadership. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the goal was clear: strike first, neutralize Iran's response capability, and take out key command structures. Within minutes, 30 Iranian generals were dead—most notably Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force. He and other IRGC missile and drone officials were meeting underground to plan Iran's retaliation. Israel's timing was precise—this meeting was specifically targeted in a coordinated, multi-front strike. What role did deception and surprise play in Israel's strategy? The name 'Red Wedding' was inspired by the brutal betrayal scene in Game of Thrones , and the strategy behind it echoed that fictional massacre. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly faked taking time off for his son's wedding while finalizing plans for the surprise attack. Even his wife Sarah and son Avner were unaware that the event was a cover to lull Iran into complacency. Israeli intelligence played a major role in gathering data on high-level targets and orchestrating the perfect moment to strike. This included feeding false signals to Iran, which helped pull together key military figures into one location. What were the results of Israel's simultaneous operations? Within hours, Israel expanded the attack. Operation Narnia, another covert strike, targeted Iran's nuclear scientists. Nine senior Iranian scientists working on nuclear weapons were killed in separate but timed strikes. This all happened as more than 200 Israeli jets conducted raids on multiple Iranian nuclear facilities. In total, the IDF hit 100 strategic targets using 330 precision munitions. These included uranium enrichment plants, ballistic missile launch sites, and command centers. Israeli forces also crippled Iranian air defenses and drone systems. By the end of the 12-day campaign, Israel claimed to have fully met and exceeded all military objectives. Was Mossad operating from inside Iran? One of the most shocking revelations came from reports that Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, had smuggled commandos and weapon systems into Iran ahead of the strike. Video footage published by Israeli media appeared to show Mossad operatives guiding drone strikes from within Iranian territory. These agents were reportedly stationed at a secret base inside Iran, playing a direct role in the early strikes on missile batteries. Their role was to provide real-time intelligence and mark critical targets for precision strikes, adding another layer of coordination to the operation. Live Events How did the United States support the mission, and what was Trump's role? U.S. President Donald Trump, still in office, supported Israel by deploying advanced American weapons to join the mission. On June 22, the U.S. dropped twelve GBU-57 'bunker buster' bombs—each weighing 30,000 pounds—on Iran's hardest-to-reach underground nuclear facilities. These strikes added significant pressure to Iran's already crumbling defense posture. Within 24 hours of these attacks, Iran launched a weak counterstrike targeting a U.S. air base in Qatar. But the attempt failed, as Iran had provided early warnings, allowing all rockets to be intercepted. A ceasefire was brokered shortly after. How is Iran reacting, and what is the Ayatollah's next move? Despite suffering heavy losses—including dozens of top military leaders and nuclear scientists—Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed victory. Speaking from a hidden underground bunker, Khamenei declared that Iran had delivered a 'severe slap' to both Israel and the United States. However, analysts say his speech was more propaganda than fact. Israel retains air superiority over Tehran, and the IDF dismantled Iran's strategic weapons systems in under two weeks. Khamenei, now 86, has not been seen in public for over two weeks and remains in hiding amid fears of further assassination attempts. What does this mean for the future of Iran and the Middle East? Calls for regime change in Iran have grown louder in the wake of the conflict. Many within the Iranian public and global observers are pushing for a democratic transition. Meanwhile, President Trump hinted at supporting this movement, posting 'Make Iran Great Again' on Truth Social. Still, the White House clarified that official U.S. policy doesn't yet include regime change. Tensions in the region remain high, and while the ceasefire holds for now, the political and military fallout from Operation Red Wedding is far from over. FAQs: What is Operation Red Wedding in Israel's attack on Iran? Operation Red Wedding was Israel's surprise mission to kill top Iranian generals in a preemptive strike. How did Israel target Iran's nuclear scientists in Operation Rising Lion? Israel used drones and airstrikes to kill nine top Iranian nuclear scientists working on bomb development.
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Operation Red Wedding: How Israel Executed A 'Game Of Thrones' Style Covert Massacre On Iran's Elite
In a covert strike reminiscent of the infamous "Red Wedding" from Game of Thrones, Israeli military generals executed a meticulously planned operation on June 13th to eliminate Iran's top military commanders. Running parallel was Operation Narnia, a deadly mission that successfully assassinated nine of Iran's most prominent nuclear scientists - right at their homes in Tehran. These twin operations have now cemented Israel's standing as the undisputed military powerhouse in the region. "When we started to plan this thing in detail, it was very difficult to know that this would work," said Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, head of the Israeli military Operations Directorate and a key architect of the assault, according to The Wall Street Journal. The groundwork for this mission wasn't laid overnight. It dates back to the mid-1990s when Israeli intelligence first flagged Iran's clandestine efforts to develop nuclear weapons. What started with a vast web of spies evolved into a sabotage campaign - two bombings at enrichment facilities, and a string of targeted assassinations of Iranian scientists. But as Iran's nuclear ambitions persisted, Israel concluded that mere sabotage wasn't enough; the entire program had to be dismantled. Several times, Israel came close to launching a full-scale attack. Yet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was repeatedly overruled by his own cabinet and security chiefs-fearing a direct war with Iran could rupture ties with the US, which then preferred diplomacy over military strikes. Everything changed after Hamas's October 7th, 2023 attack on Israel. In the two years that followed, Israel decimated Hamas and significantly weakened Hezbollah. Meanwhile, opposition forces toppled Syria's Iran-backed government, replacing it with an anti-Iran regime-opening up Syrian airspace for Israeli jets. By then, Israel's spy network inside Iran was formidable. Agents were tracking Iranian military leaders in real time. Drone bases set up inside the country stood ready to dismantle Iranian air defences. In fact, Israel had already crippled Tehran's most advanced air-defence systems in two strikes in April and October 2024. As 2024 drew to a close, intelligence revealed Iran had started enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels-putting them mere months away from building a nuclear bomb. Fearing time had run out, Israel activated Operation Narnia to decapitate Iran's nuclear brain trust. In November, 120 intelligence and air force officers gathered to compile a kill list. They identified 250 targets, including nuclear facilities, missile sites, senior military commanders, and key scientists. But for this to work, Israel needed not just precise strikes-but total air superiority. That's where Mossad came in. Agents smuggled hundreds of quadcopter drones, disguised in luggage, shipping containers, and trucks, all rigged with explosives. Remote-operated munitions were also positioned across Iran. Covert teams deployed near Iran's air-defence systems, poised to disable them the moment the operation began. The final green light came on June 9th. To ensure Iran's top brass didn't scatter, Netanyahu staged a public decoy-announcing he was taking personal leave for his eldest son's wedding. None of his family members, not his wife or his son, knew the wedding was being postponed, he later revealed. Simultaneously, Israeli officials leaked reports of a rift between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, including details of a tense phone call where Trump urged diplomacy and warned against unilateral strikes. On the morning of the assault, Trump told reporters that the US and Iran were "fairly close to an agreement" and made it clear that Washington didn't want Israel "going in." But by then, Israeli generals were already finalising their attack plans. One Israeli security official said that it was important to implant the idea in the minds of Iranians that Israel would not strike without US authorisation and participation. As Israeli fighter jets climbed into the skies, Trump posted on Truth Social: "We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue!" Operation Red Wedding was designed to crush Iran's military leadership in one fell swoop, denying them the ability to coordinate a retaliatory strike. Simultaneously, Israeli jets and drones were tasked with dismantling missile launchers and nuclear sites to cripple Iran's future capabilities. Then came an unexpected twist. Israeli surveillance noticed Iran's air force leadership suddenly mobilising. For a moment, Israeli commanders feared their cover was blown. But instead, Iran's military leaders unknowingly gathered in one location, making themselves an even easier target. Within minutes, Israeli missiles struck, wiping them out. Meanwhile, Operation Narnia hit its marks. Nine of Iran's top nuclear scientists were killed, their homes reduced to rubble. Israeli intelligence later confirmed that nearly every high-value human target on the list was eliminated. In the days that followed, Israeli warplanes relentlessly bombed Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, launch sites, and remaining leadership. By Tuesday, a ceasefire was declared between the two nations.
New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Israeli strike on Iran that killed dozens of military leaders inspired by iconic ‘Game of Thrones' scene
A clinical Israeli strike that wiped out dozens of Iran's top military commanders was inspired by a brutal 'Game of Thrones' scene. The stealth attack was code-named 'Red Wedding' — after a notorious massacre from the HBO series in which an entire family is slaughtered in mere minutes, the Times of Israel first reported. The real-life operation on June 13 — part of the start of the 12-day war — saw more than 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft striking roughly 100 targets, specifically nuclear facilities and missile factories. Advertisement 3 Iranians stand in front of a billboard carrying pictures of Iranian brass killed in the strikes, including late Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Mohammad Bagheri (top right.) ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Like the 'Game of Thrones' scene, it quickly led to a bloodbath, obliterating a swath of high-ranking Iranian officials — including Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard; Mohammad Bagheri, chief of the country's military; and Gholam Ali Rashid, head of Iran's emergency command. Israel was able to trick some top commanders of Iran's air force into gathering for a meeting before they were targeted in one strike, Israeli officials previously revealed. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Jewish state had been actively hunting Tehran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the 12-day onslaught — but the ideal opportunity to assassinate him never came through. Advertisement 'I estimate that if Khamenei had been in our sights, we would have taken him out,' Katz told Israeli TV on Thursday. 'But Khamenei understood this, went underground to very great depths and broke off contacts with the commanders who replaced those commanders who were eliminated, so it wasn't realistic in the end.' Khamenei went into hiding after Israel launched its initial onslaught. Advertisement 3 The stealth attack was code-named 'Red Wedding' after the notorious episode of 'Game of Thrones.' HELENSLOAN 3 A building in Nobonyad Square suffered significant damage in Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran. Majid Saeedi He only surfaced Thursday to bizarrely claim victory over Israel and America after President Trump announced a cease-fire between the warring nations. 'The Islamic Republic was victorious and, in retaliation, delivered a hand slap to America's face,' Khamenei had claimed — despite Iran's heavy losses.
