Israeli strikes targeted Khamenei and Pezeshkian, Israeli official says; results currently unclear

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

This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him during an address in Tehran on February 17, 2026. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him during an address in Tehran on February 17, 2026. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Israeli strikes this morning in Iran targeted Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, an Israeli official says.

Other top regime and military commanders were also targeted, according to the official.

The results of the strikes are currently unclear, the official says.

Earlier, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that Pezeshkian was “in full health.”

A few minutes ago, quoting unnamed Israeli sources, Israel’s Channel 12 said Israel assesses that the strikes on Iran thus far have achieved “very high success” in the goal of eliminating the Iranian leadership.

The report said the assessment related to senior commanders, and to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. It further said that “it is not clear that [Iran’s Supreme leader Ali] Khamenei did not undergo a dramatic event.”

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