Tehran, Iran — Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has been killed in a coordinated wave of US-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, according to Iranian state media, marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing Middle East crisis.
A visibly emotional presenter on Iranian state television confirmed the 85-year-old cleric’s death, announcing that 40 days of national mourning would be observed.
Khamenei, who had led the Islamic Republic since 1989, was reportedly found in the rubble of a heavily fortified compound after missiles struck what sources described as a high-security bunker in the capital.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the development in a statement on Truth Social, calling the strike “justice for the people of Iran” and “for all Great Americans.”
He said the operation was made possible through advanced US intelligence and close coordination with Israel, adding that military action would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary.”
Israeli officials said the strikes formed part of a months-long coordinated operation targeting senior figures within Iran’s military and political leadership.
The Israel Defense Forces reported the elimination of numerous high-ranking defense officials, with unconfirmed reports suggesting as many as 40 senior figures were killed.
An Israeli military official described the assault as the culmination of an extensive intelligence effort designed to identify a window during which top regime officials were gathered at multiple sites.
Three locations were reportedly struck simultaneously.
Among those believed to have been killed are Iran’s defense minister and senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Tehran had earlier dismissed reports of Khamenei’s death as “mental warfare,” and Iran’s foreign minister had publicly insisted the supreme leader remained alive prior to the official broadcast confirmation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Iranian citizens to “take to the streets en masse,” calling for the regime’s removal in a direct public appeal.
US defense sources confirmed that more than 200 aircraft, supported by Tomahawk cruise missiles, struck approximately 500 targets in what Israeli sources referred to as “Operation Roaring Lion.”
American F-22 fighter jets reportedly led the assault, with aircraft carriers positioned throughout the region.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting US installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Explosions were reported near strategic sites, including the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. One fatality was reported in Abu Dhabi, while Israeli emergency services said 89 individuals sustained minor injuries following aerial interceptions over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Footage circulating on social media showed flames near the Palm Jumeirah area in Dubai following an apparent drone strike, prompting tourists and residents to seek shelter.
The Islamic Republic, established in 1979, now faces significant uncertainty as questions mount over succession, internal stability, and the potential for further regional escalation.
Iranian authorities have not yet announced a formal transition plan. Military operations across the region remain ongoing.
