According to a report by the British newspaper Financial Times, Israeli intelligence allegedly hacked traffic cameras in Tehran as part of a covert operation targeting the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The report provides details of the intelligence campaign, stating that under Israel’s plan, Tehran’s traffic cameras were accessed and videos were secretly transmitted to Tel Aviv over several years. The surveillance reportedly focused on the movement patterns of Khamenei’s bodyguards and drivers along Pasteur Street, as well as monitoring compound interiors and parking areas.
Using algorithms, analysts allegedly mapped the routines of security personnel, including work schedules, parking habits, and travel routes. This detailed intelligence reportedly allowed Israeli and CIA operatives to know in advance the timing of meetings and the identities of attendees.
The report further claims that during the attempted strike, mobile towers were partially disabled, which may have prevented security personnel from receiving timely warnings.
If accurate, these revelations suggest an unprecedented level of cyber-enabled surveillance targeting a head of state, combining physical and digital intelligence to support operational planning. The Financial Times report highlights concerns about the vulnerabilities of urban surveillance systems to foreign intelligence exploitation, particularly in high-stakes geopolitical conflicts.
The alleged operation also underscores the integration of cyber capabilities into modern intelligence and military operations, demonstrating how electronic surveillance, algorithmic analysis, and real-time monitoring can be used to track high-profile targets.
Official Israeli or Iranian responses to the report were not included, and independent verification of the details remains limited. Analysts have noted that such operations, if confirmed, represent a significant escalation in the use of cyber tools for targeted strikes and state-level intelligence campaigns.
