Washington, D.C. (Lamaane.net) — The U.S. airstrike on Iran was accelerated after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly provided crucial intelligence indicating that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his senior advisors would meet in Tehran on Saturday, February 28, according to sources cited by Lamaane News Network.
On Monday, February 23, Netanyahu allegedly informed President Donald Trump that Khamenei’s inner circle would gather in a single location, presenting a rare opportunity for a decisive strike. Three individuals familiar with the call told Axios that Netanyahu warned the group could be neutralized in one operation.
Trump had already been considering military action against Iran, but the intelligence reportedly accelerated his decision-making. The Central Intelligence Agency verified the Israeli intelligence, confirming the meeting schedule and prompting final operational preparations. The strikes began at 2:38 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, February 28.
Officials noted that the compressed timeline limited opportunities for public messaging or phased justification, necessitating the emergency evacuation of over 1,500 U.S. citizens from Iran once operations commenced.
Lamaane News Network reports that the strike followed months of intense coordination between the Trump administration and Netanyahu, including two in-person meetings and 15 phone calls in the two months prior. A senior U.S. official described the relationship as a dual-track strategy: "One side was negotiating, the other planning joint action.”
Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yaheel Leiter dismissed claims that Netanyahu pressured the U.S., emphasizing that both nations share a common view on the Iranian threat. Trump also rejected suggestions that Netanyahu dictated the strike, stating the decision was ultimately made by the U.S. administration.
The operation marks a significant escalation in U.S.-Iran-Israel tensions and demonstrates the strategic impact of real-time intelligence on rapid military decisions.
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