Blue Sparrow Missile: How Israel Killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei From Space

The Israeli military used a powerful ballistic missile that flew above the Earth's atmosphere and returned to its target before converting the building into rubble, where Iran's Supreme Leader and other senior officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were present on Saturday, March 1. Here's how Israel's Blue Sparrow missile killed Iran's leader in a disguise planned.

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The Blue Sparrow, a missile that can go up to 1,240 miles and crosses the Earth's atmosphere and has the power to come back down, was used by Israel during its "Operation Epic Fury." According to the New York Post chart, which explains how the rocket was fired, shows:

1. Israeli fighter jets fire a Blue Sparrow missile

2. Booster rocket sends missile out of the Earth's atmosphere, which makes it travel further and more difficult to intercept by the anti-missile dome. 

3. Warhead separates from booster rocket and locks on to target.

4. The missile then re-enters the atmosphere and strikes the target.

5. Iran's Presidential complex in Tehran exploded.

The impact of the Blue Sparrow rocket was so intense that debris was found in western Iraq, according to Israeli sources, reported New York Post. 

An Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) official not named told reporters Thursday that the surprise attack came on Saturday, March 1, after Israeli military officials deliberately gave the impression that their military was taking leave for the weekend.

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The official told the BBC that they released photos and information about the IDF staff and senior command leaders who were going home for Shabbat dinner. During that time, high-ranking officials reacted that they were leaving military headquarters to enjoy the weekend, but they disguise the Iranian intelligence. 

They quickly return to the facility to prepare for the attack on the headquarters' compound. Although the assassination of Iran Supreme Leader was originally planned for nighttime, the schedule was later shifted to exploit a Saturday morning meeting of Tehran's top officials, people familiar with the operation told NYT.

How Israel Found Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?

Before the attack, Khamenei was believed to be spending most of his evenings in a deep, underground bunker to shield himself from any attacks. Israel’s top intelligence agency, Mossad, was able to keep tabs on where the regime’s senior leaders’ bodyguards were stationed when they arrived at Khamenei’s compound on Pasteur Street in the heart of Tehran, the IDF officials noted. 

The Mossad agency had access to the guard's schedules and movements with one likely CCTV camera in Tehran, which they hacked, which was found to be crucial in spying on the situation. All information was given to Israeli officials in Tel Aviv, which helps officials to plan to strike. 

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Israeli F-15 jets and other aircraft were deployed at around 7.30 am as per Iran local time, with the aircraft unleashing 30 missiles, including Blue Sparrows, at the heart of Iran's Tehran above the Ayatollah’s compound about two hours later. 

The air-launched missile Blue Sparrow was designed to simulate the Soviet Union’s Scud missiles, similar to those used by Iraq during the Gulf War. These missiles are typically launched from fighter jets, with their booster rockets taking them to space so the bombs may hover over their intended target. 

The hacks and spying efforts were all part of a years-long  Israeli intelligence campaign designed to take out Khamenei.