The Israel Defense Forces say they dismantled an extensive underground bunker in central Tehran that they link to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, releasing video that allegedly shows tunnels and multiple entry points. Israeli officials told reporters the compound sat beneath a location where, they say, nearly 50 senior regime figures were killed during the opening of Operation Epic Fury. Officials also claim a coordinated Israeli–American deception campaign helped lull Iranian leadership; these claims remain unverified.
IDF Says It Dismantled Khamenei’s Underground Bunker in Tehran Amid Operation Epic Fury
President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(Getty Images)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that it dismantled an extensive underground bunker in central Tehran that it attributes to Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The IDF described the facility as spanning multiple streets with numerous access points and meeting rooms used by senior regime figures.
"The underground compound was created by the regime as a base for advancing military activities and its extremist ideologies against the State of Israel and the Western world," the IDF said.
Israel subsequently published an illustrated video that it says identifies several entry points across Tehran and shows tunnels leading to the subterranean complex.
A senior Israeli official told Fox News the fortified site sat beneath the location where Khamenei and other regime figures were present on Saturday morning, when, according to those officials, nearly 50 senior figures were killed in under 50 seconds during the opening of Operation Epic Fury. These casualty figures and some operational details have not been independently verified.
Israeli sources said Khamenei invested years and millions of dollars in constructing the facility but did not use it on the morning of the attack. Officials also described an alleged Israeli–American deception campaign—using public messaging, signals and statements by political leaders—to create a false sense of security among Iranian leadership; top IDF commanders reportedly left base hours before the strike as part of these measures.
Khamenei had led the Islamic Republic for more than 30 years. During his tenure, he oversaw harsh internal crackdowns, including recent operations against protesters, as well as numerous international confrontations. Reports say Iran postponed planned farewell events in Tehran following the strikes.
Reporting note: The IDF statements and accounts from Israeli officials cited here reflect their perspective. Key claims in this report—including casualty numbers and the exact nature of the facility—have not been independently verified.
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