According to an unnamed intelligence official, Israel has informed U.S. officials that Israel was behind the assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei in Tehran on May 22. Iran has accused Israel of orchestrating the attack, but the Israeli government has not publicly accepted responsibility. According to the intelligence official, the assassination was meant to deter Iran from continuing to operate Unit 840, allegedly a secret IRGC Qods Force unit that targets foreigners, including Israelis, for abductions and assassinations. Khodaei was allegedly its deputy commander.