JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military on Friday said its fighter jets had “dismantled” an underground bunker that was meant to be used as a command hub by slain leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“The underground military bunker, which was located beneath the regime’s leadership compound in the centre of Tehran, was intended to be used by the supreme leader of the Iranian regime as a secure emergency command centre,” the army said.
“Khamenei was eliminated before he could use the bunker during operation ‘Roaring Lion’ but the compound continued to be used by senior Iranian regime officials.”
The Israeli military said around 50 combat jets were involved in the strikes on the underground network that spanned “multiple streets in the heart of Tehran.”
Khamenei was killed at his leadership compound on Saturday, on the first day of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that sparked the Middle East war.
The Pentagon has since said it was an Israeli strike that killed him, while Trump has said it was in part thanks to US intelligence.
On Thursday, Israel’s military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said: “In just 40 seconds, approximately 40 senior officials of the Iranian terror regime were eliminated, including the regime’s leader, Ali Khamenei.”
