Who is Iran's supreme leader, Khamene, and why is he a potential target?

Among the areas targeted Saturday in Iran's capital, Tehran, were countries linked to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ajothallah Khamenei.
Here's more about Khamenei and why the United States and Israel are potentially looking to “affect the head” the leadership of the Islamic republic:

Where did the Saturday attacks happen?

Iranian media report that US-Israel attacks occurred throughout the country, including several areas in the capital, Tehran.

Iran's semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that seven rockets hit an area near the presidential palace, located in Shemira in northern Tehran, as well as near the Khamene complex.

The Associated Press reported that the attacks occurred even near Khamene's offices in the capital.
Where's Khamene?
It's not clear. Reuters news agency quoted a source as saying Khamene was not in Tehran and had moved to a safe place.

Who is Khamene?

The 86-year-old Islamic scholar has been Iran's Supreme Leader since 1989, following the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Ajatolah Ruholah Khomeni charismatic, who returned from exile and led the Iranian revolution in 1979 that overturned US ally and chess, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It maintains final authority over all branches of government, military and judiciary, while also acting as the country's spiritual leader.

During his rule, Khamene has endured a hostile relationship with the West, including severe sanctions and several rounds of protests in the country due to economics and rights issues. He's called the U.S. “the enemy number one-x1> of Iran, with Israel coming very close.

Critical for the power of Khamenei is the loyalty of two of Iran's main security institutions -- the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij paramilitary forces, which have hundreds of thousands of volunteers.

Khamenei has long said Iran would never build a nuclear weapon and that its nuclear programme is only for civilian purposes. Neither American intelligence nor the UN nuclear overseer have found any evidence that Iran was pursuing an atomic weapon, a gear that Israel and some in Trump administration have postponed, however.

What did the U.S. and Israel say about Khamene?

Officials from the two countries have previously issued threats against Khamene.

In June, after the 12-day war of US-Israel attacks on Iran and Tehran's revenge against Israel, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Khamenei “cannot continue to exist”.

“A dictator like Khamenei, who stands at the helm of a state like Iran and has the terrible purpose of Israel's destruction, cannot continue to exist”, he said.

That same month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that Israel had not ruled out trying to kill Khamene, an act he said would end the “long-standing conflict between the US and Iran.

In the US, President Donald Trump has also made comments that seem to threaten Khamene. In an interview with ABC News earlier this month, Trump said the Iranian leader must be the highly concerned “”, after the US has collected military assets in the region. In separate comments, he said changing the regime in Iran would be the best “that could happen” and that “there are people” that can take over leadership without providing details.

While ordering attacks on Iran last year, Trump later claimed that Khamenei would be a non-x0> light target” if the US decided to follow him.

We know exactly where the so-called Supreme Leader is hiding, Trump said. He's an easy target, but he's safe there. We're not gonna kill him. ”

What was the purpose of the final attack?

In comments after the attacks, Trump pledged to replace “the Iran Navy and missile bases and urged Iranians to overthrow their government.

When we're finished, take your government. It will be yours to get”, Trump said. “This will probably be your only chance for generations. ”
Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem, who has widely covered Iran, said it is clear that US-Israel attacks “are primarily intended to destroy [political elite]”.

“How successful or unsuccessful this was, it's too early to say. ”