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Israel used the advanced Blue Sparrow air-launched ballistic missile in the strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The weapon briefly exits the atmosphere before diving at high speed, making interception extremely difficult.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026
Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, during a major strike carried out amid coordinated military operations targeting senior Iranian leadership and strategic facilities. The attack significantly escalated tensions across West Asia.
According to multiple international media reports, Israel used an advanced air-launched ballistic weapon known as the Blue Sparrow during the strike. The missile is often described as a “missile from space” due to the trajectory it follows before hitting its target.
Reports suggest the weapon struck a compound in Tehran where senior Iranian political and military leaders had gathered, resulting in the deaths of several high-ranking officials.
The Blue Sparrow is an advanced air-launched ballistic missile developed by Israel as part of a specialised missile system. Defence analysts say the weapon can travel roughly 2,000 kilometres (about 1,240 miles).
After launch from a fighter aircraft, the missile climbs toward the edge of Earth’s atmosphere before descending rapidly toward its target. This flight path allows it to strike at extremely high speed.
The missile measures about 6.5 metres in length and weighs around 1.9 tonnes. It typically releases a re-entry vehicle that plunges back to Earth and impacts the designated target with significant force. Because the missile briefly leaves the atmosphere before re-entering, defence experts often refer to it as a “missile from space”.
The Blue Sparrow is part of a broader missile family that also includes the Black Sparrow and Silver Sparrow systems. These weapons were originally designed to simulate Soviet Scud-type missiles during tests of Israel’s missile defence systems.
The missile programme was developed by Israel’s Armament Development Authority and has historically been used during testing of the Arrow Missile Defense System, which is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles.
Over time, analysts say the system has evolved beyond its original testing role and can now function as a precision strike weapon capable of targeting heavily defended locations.
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The strike involved Israeli fighter aircraft, including F‑15 Eagle jets, which launched multiple missiles toward Tehran. The aircraft reportedly took off early in the morning, and the missiles struck the compound roughly two hours later. Intelligence reportedly played a key role in the operation, with information about the gathering of senior Iranian leaders guiding the timing of the strike.
The operation also involved surveillance and coordination between military command centres to ensure the attack was carried out with precision.
The strike marked one of the most significant escalations in the ongoing regional confrontation, further heightening geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The strike, according to Israeli officials, killed more than 40 senior Iranian leaders, including Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
