Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, has been killed alongside several family members in a joint United States-Israel military strike, according to Iranian state media on Sunday.
Official outlets in Tehran confirmed the death early Sunday, while a senior Israeli official told Reuters that Khamenei’s body was recovered following the attack. The strike reportedly also claimed the lives of his daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law and daughter-in-law.
US President Donald Trump said Washington had worked closely with Israel in targeting the Iranian leader. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed US intelligence and tracking systems had monitored Khamenei’s movements, adding: “There was nothing he, or the other leaders killed alongside him, could do.”
He reiterated calls for the Iranian public to rise against their government, warning that targeted and sustained bombardments would continue “for as long as necessary” to achieve what he described as peace across West Asia and beyond.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Khamenei’s residential compound had been destroyed in the strike.
Senior Iranian Officials Also Killed
Three sources familiar with the matter said Iran’s Defence Minister, Amir Nasirzadeh, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammed Pakpour were among those killed.
The Israeli military later confirmed that five additional senior Iranian military officials had died, including Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the Supreme Leader.
Satellite imagery released after the attack showed thick black smoke and extensive structural damage at Khamenei’s official residence complex in Tehran.
Public Reaction and Rising Tensions
Witnesses reported that some Iranians gathered in parts of Tehran, the nearby city of Karaj and central Isfahan following news of Khamenei’s death. Videos circulating on social media — not independently verified — appeared to show celebrations in several locations.
The explosions triggered widespread panic across the country, with residents describing chaotic scenes in multiple provinces.
In a video message posted on social media early Saturday, Trump said the military campaign — named “Operation Epic Fury” by the US Department of War — aimed to eliminate what he called an immediate threat posed by Iran’s regime.
He urged Iranians to “take over” their government, describing the moment as a rare generational opportunity.
The reported killing of Iran’s most powerful figure marks a dramatic escalation in regional tensions, raising fears of broader instability across West Asia as global leaders assess the fallout from the unprecedented strike.
