Israeli Military Announces Destruction of Iranian Leader's Aircraft
The Israel Defense Forces have declared they successfully destroyed the private plane belonging to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader of Iran. According to an official statement posted on social media platform X on Monday morning, the targeted aircraft was stationed at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport.
Strategic Significance of the Attack
The IDF emphasized that this particular plane was frequently utilized by Ali Khamenei and other high-ranking Iranian officials for critical missions. These included advancing military procurement and managing communications with allied nations through both domestic and international flights. The military statement elaborated that the destruction of this aircraft significantly impairs the Iranian regime's leadership coordination capabilities with Axis countries, hampers efforts to strengthen military capacities, and disrupts the regime's overall ability to rebuild and reorganize.
Reports Emerge of Successor's Medical Evacuation to Russia
Simultaneously, new intelligence reports have surfaced claiming that Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son who succeeded his father following the assassination on February 28, is currently in Moscow. He is reportedly receiving medical treatment for serious injuries sustained during a joint United States and Israeli airstrike operation.
Details of the Covert Medical Mission
According to information from the Kuwaiti news outlet Al-Jarida, which cites a high-ranking source close to the new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei's injuries were so severe that they could not be adequately treated within Iran. The country is under constant military pressure from both US and Israeli forces. A clandestine operation was therefore orchestrated to transport him out of Iran aboard a Russian military aircraft. The mission was intended to be top secret, with the new Ayatollah eventually arriving at one of President Vladimir Putin's presidential palaces where he underwent what is described as successful surgery.
Uncertainty Surrounding Health and Status
The exact nature and extent of Mojtaba Khamenei's injuries remain unclear and are the subject of intense speculation. A separate source, communicating via secret messages to an exiled dissident in London, provided alarming details. This anonymous source, who fears for their life, claimed the new Supreme Leader is in a very serious condition, possibly having lost one or both legs and suffering from internal organ damage, including a ruptured liver or stomach. He is also reportedly in a coma and is under the care of Iran's Minister of Health, Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi, a leading trauma surgeon.
Official Statements and Speculation Intensify
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth publicly stated on Friday that he believes Mojtaba Khamenei is indeed wounded and likely disfigured. Adding to the uncertainty, former US President Donald Trump commented over the weekend, suggesting he had heard rumors of the successor's death and questioning whether he is even alive, urging him to surrender if he is.
An Israeli security official offered a terse statement on Sunday, simply noting, We know where he is, and cautioning against trusting every report issued by Iranian authorities. This follows a previous vow from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz that any Iranian leader chosen to continue the regime's hostile policies would be a target for assassination.
Leadership Vacuum and Internal Confusion
Within Iran, the situation appears chaotic. An Iranian official speaking from inside the war-torn country revealed that commanders have received no orders from their new supreme leader and are largely in the dark about his condition. Speculation about Mojtaba Khamenei's whereabouts and health has only intensified since he issued his first statement on the war last Thursday. Notably, he did not appear on camera; instead, a news anchor read his remarks, which promised continued attacks on US bases in the region while asserting a desire for friendship with Gulf neighbours.
So far, Iranian officials have only confirmed that the new leader is wounded, providing no further substantive details, leaving a significant information vacuum filled by conflicting reports and heightened geopolitical tensions.
