REPORT: The unique way Israel tracked Khamenei ahead of assassination

March 3, 2026

From the Times of Israel: Israel hacked into Tehran’s extensive traffic camera network in order to track the bodyguards of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials ahead of Saturday’s assassination of the supreme leader, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Iran’s cameras are believed to be part of the state’s surveillance apparatus, allowing authorities to identify and pursue protesters and regime opponents. But the Mossad, Israel’s spy agency, was able to co-opt the network for use against the regime, the report said.

The FT said Israel gained access to the cameras years ago, and found that one particular camera was angled in such a way that it showed where members of Khamenei’s security team parked their cars.

Through the cameras, Israeli intelligence built files on the guards’ addresses, work schedules, and who they were assigned to protect.

In addition to the traffic light hack, the report explains that Israel and the US disrupted cellular service on Saturday, the day of the deadly airstrike, so anyone trying to reach the bodyguards and deliver possible warnings would receive busy signals.

A human source was also providing key intelligence to the CIA, the report notes.