What Happened Between 5:00 and 7:00 AM. The Iran War in Two Hours

Israel Hacked Tehran Traffic Cameras to Track Khamenei Before the Kill

According to the Financial Times, Israel hacked into Tehran’s extensive traffic camera network months before the strike, using the footage to track the bodyguards of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials. The CIA, which had been closely monitoring Khamenei’s movements, learned he was planning to be at his residential compound on Saturday morning alongside senior civilian and military leaders. The New York Times reported that the original plan was to strike Friday night under cover of darkness, but the operation was delayed to Saturday morning to capitalize on the intelligence. It was this “remarkable intelligence coup” that ultimately determined the timing of Operation Epic Fury.

IDF Strikes Quds Force Lebanon Corps Commander in Tehran

The Israeli military confirmed a precision strike in Tehran targeting Daoud Ali Zadeh, the commander of the Quds Force’s Lebanon Corps — the unit responsible for directing and funding Hezbollah operations. There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities on Ali Zadeh’s condition. Air defense systems were activated over Tehran around the time of the reported strike. Shortly afterward, air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel following retaliatory missile launches from Iran. Israel’s Military Intelligence chief said the IDF can now “neutralize key figures in Iran in 40 seconds.”

IDF Drops 250+ Munitions in a Single Day on Iran’s Security Apparatus

Israeli Air Force jets dropped more than 250 munitions on Tehran in a single day, targeting dozens of headquarters belonging to the Iranian regime’s internal security forces. The strikes hit over 10 Ministry of Intelligence headquarters, Quds Force command centers, Basij paramilitary bases, and IRGC weapons production sites. The IDF also reported destroying 150 ballistic missiles and launchers since the operation began. Israel mobilized approximately 110,000 reservists — the largest call-up since October 7, 2023. An IDF spokesman stated: “We will continue and deepen the strikes.”

Quds Force Warns: “The Enemy Will No Longer Be Safe Anywhere in the World”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a chilling warning on Tuesday, declaring that the United States and Israel “will no longer be safe anywhere in the world, not even in their own homes.” The statement came from the Quds Force, led by General Esmail Qaani, which oversees Iran’s foreign military operations. Meanwhile, Israeli security officials warned cabinet ministers that the Iranian ballistic missile threat “will not be destroyed” entirely by the current campaign, despite the massive scope of the strikes. Iran has launched 11 waves of retaliatory attacks under Operation True Promise 4 since Saturday.

Russia Warns Bushehr Nuclear Plant at Risk; U.S. Confirms 11 Iranian Warships Sunk

The head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom warned that Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant faces serious risks, saying explosions could be heard just kilometers from the facility. Separately, Natanz nuclear site sustained confirmed damage from U.S.-Israeli strikes, though the IAEA initially said no nuclear installations had been hit. On the naval front, U.S. Central Command confirmed it has destroyed 11 Iranian warships, including the IRIS Jamaran frigate, severely degrading Iran’s naval capabilities in the Gulf of Oman. American forces used B-2 stealth bombers with 2,000-pound bunker-buster bombs to strike fortified Iranian missile facilities.