Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials were killed in coordinated joint strikes by the United States and Israel on February 28. Khamenei’s assassination was reportedly a result of an impeccable intelligence operation over the years. According to reports, acting on specific information about the whereabouts of Kahmenei, Israel launched the “Blue Sparrow” missile to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Due to the trajectory of the missile, it is also known as “missile from space”. The missile reportedly climbed towards the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere and then moved towards the target. where Khamenei and other top officials were present.
It belongs to a 'Sparrow' family of Israeli medium-range air-launched ballistic missiles produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The Blue Sparrow has a total length of 6.51 metres (21.4 ft), a weight of 1,900 kg, and a striking range of around 2,000 km. The missile is launched from a fighter aircraft. Initially it follows a ballistic trajectory. It reportedly releases a re-entry vehicle, which can hit a target at a very high speed.
Other missiles of the ‘Sparrow’ family are - Silver Sparrow and Black Sparrow. According to a report by the New York Times, the Israeli Air Force used he Black Sparrow variant to destroy Iranian surface-to-air missile batteries during the ongoing conflict.
The Blue Sparrow was developed by Israel’s Armament Development Authority, AFP reported in 2008. Due to its re-entry into the atmosphere at a high speed, it is difficult to escape for the Blue Sparrow.
How Khamenei Was Located And Killed?
US and Israeli intelligence agencies were able to locate Khamenei through a combination of prolonged surveillance, real-time intelligence, and a critical breakthrough involving a high-level leadership meeting, according to reports by The New York Times and regional media. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had reportedly spent months studying Khamenei’s routines, movements, and security arrangements.
Intelligence officials learned that Khamenei would attend an unusual gathering with senior political and military leaders on the morning of February 28. Notably, before February 28, Khamenei was underground in anticipation of Israeli attacks.
As per US officials, sophisticated surveillance and tracking tools were used to confirm Khamenei’s presence at the location. Once verified, planners moved quickly to ensure the strike would occur while he remained inside the secured compound.
In retaliation to Khamenei’s death, Iran launched a series of strikes on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
