New Delhi: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, was killed in a series of overnight airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel, Iranian state media confirmed on Sunday.
The state-run IRNA news agency reported that Khamenei succumbed to injuries sustained in the strikes, which also claimed the lives of his daughter, a grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law. The confirmation followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who earlier indicated that the Iranian leader had been eliminated in the military operation.
Officials familiar with the developments said the coordinated strikes targeted key leadership compounds in Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated there were “strong indications” that Khamenei was no longer alive and called on the Iranian people to “finish the job.” He also claimed that the Supreme Leader’s residence was destroyed and that senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) along with nuclear officials were killed.
In a statement, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces struck sites posing an “imminent threat,” including IRGC command and control facilities, air defence systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.
Before the official confirmation, Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US military installations across the region. The Israeli military reported that dozens of projectiles were fired from Iranian territory, many of which were intercepted. No serious injuries were immediately reported, though exchanges continued after nightfall on Saturday.
Earlier, Iranian authorities had dismissed Israeli reports about Khamenei’s death as “psychological warfare.” The head of public relations at the Supreme Leader’s office accused adversaries of spreading misinformation amid rising tensions.
The developments have triggered swift international reactions. Countries maintaining diplomatic ties with Israel, including Morocco, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, while refraining from direct comment on the initial US-Israeli offensive.
In Europe, Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union would convene an emergency security meeting on Monday to assess the rapidly escalating situation. She stressed that preventing further escalation was critical for regional security and stability.
