The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced the destruction of a major underground military command bunker in Tehran that it said was intended for use by Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a statement released on Friday, the Israeli military said the facility was destroyed in a large-scale air operation involving about 50 Israeli fighter jets targeting the underground structure located in the centre of Tehran.
According to the IDF, the bunker had been designed to serve as a secure emergency command centre for Khamenei during wartime or major national crises.
The Israeli military said the facility extended beneath multiple streets in the Iranian capital, describing it as a vast underground complex built to withstand attacks and ensure command continuity for Iran’s leadership.
The IDF further claimed that the bunker continued to be used by senior officials of the Iranian regime, even after the death of Khamenei. Israeli officials also stated that the Iranian leader had been “eliminated” before he could make use of the facility, though the military did not provide additional details regarding the timing or circumstances of his death.
The announcement marks one of the most significant strikes reported in Tehran amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Israeli authorities say the operation was part of broader efforts aimed at crippling Iran’s military command infrastructure and preventing the country’s leadership from coordinating attacks.
Iranian authorities have yet to publicly confirm the destruction of the bunker or respond to the Israeli claims.
The development comes as hostilities between Israel and Iran continue to intensify, raising concerns among international observers about the risk of a wider regional conflict in the Middle East
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