Israel conducted the strike on regime clerics gathering to elect new Iranian supreme leader — defense source

By Emanuel Fabian

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3 March 2026, 4:34 pm

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Footage of the Israeli strike on a building in the Iranian city of Qom where a body was set to choose Iran's new supreme leader on March 3, 2026. (Screenshot: X; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

An Israeli defense source confirms that the Israeli Air Force struck a building in the Iranian city of Qom where senior clerics had gathered to elect Iran’s new supreme leader.

The Assembly of Experts has 88 members, though it is unclear how many of them were at the building at the time of the strike, according to the official.

Geolocation of the building struck today in this video in the Iranian city of Qom. 34.62534, 50.87639
The building belongs to the "Assembly of Religious Experts" who select the next Islamic Revolutions' Supreme Leader.https://t.co/nH9hNR5Tou pic.twitter.com/TgUGCYmmhv

— Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) March 3, 2026