Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in a series of large-scale airstrikes launched by Israel and the United States, marking one of the most dramatic escalations in Middle East tensions in decades.
Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday that Khamenei died following the coordinated strikes that targeted key military and strategic locations across Iran. Khamenei had ruled Iran since 1989 and was one of the most influential figures in the region.
A senior Israeli official told Reuters that the Iranian leader’s body had been discovered after a major strike on his compound. US President Donald Trump said Washington worked closely with Israel in tracking and targeting Iran’s top leadership.
Trump said intelligence systems monitored Khamenei’s movements before the strike.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said in a video message shared on social media.
Massive Military Operation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation destroyed Khamenei’s compound.
Israel’s military confirmed that around 200 fighter jets were involved in the largest aerial operation in its history, striking approximately 500 targets across Iran, including strategic defense installations.
Sources familiar with the situation said several senior Iranian leaders were also killed in the strikes, including Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour.
Other senior officials reportedly killed include Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader.
Iran Retaliates with Missile Attacks
Following the strikes, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones toward Israel and several countries in the region hosting US military bases.
The attacks targeted locations in the Middle East, including areas where American forces are stationed. However, the Pentagon reported that there were no US casualties in the retaliatory strikes.
Iran also warned that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important global oil routes through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes. Analysts expect oil prices to surge following the escalation.
Panic and Mixed Reactions in Iran
The explosions across Iran caused widespread panic among civilians.
A resident from the northern Iranian city of Tabriz told Reuters that families were terrified as the strikes hit multiple areas.
“We are scared. My children are shaking. We have nowhere to go,” said a local resident speaking by phone.
Meanwhile, some videos circulating on social media appeared to show people celebrating in parts of Tehran, Karaj and Isfahan after reports of Khamenei’s death. These videos could not be independently verified.
Global Reactions and Rising Tensions
The airstrikes were part of a military campaign named Operation Epic Fury, according to the US Department of Defense.
The strikes came despite recent diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program.
During a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, representatives from Russia and China criticized the US and Israel for launching the attacks while diplomatic talks were still ongoing.
Meanwhile, António Guterres called for an immediate halt to hostilities and urged all sides to avoid further escalation.
