Tehran / Tel Aviv / Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Sunday that there are “many signs” suggesting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a powerful US-Israeli strike targeting his compound in central Tehran.
In a televised statement, Netanyahu said, “This morning, in a powerful surprise strike, the compound of Ali Khamenei was destroyed in the heart of Tehran… and there are many signs that he is no longer alive.”
However, there has been no official confirmation from Tehran regarding Khamenei’s fate. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim and Mehr news agencies reported that the Supreme Leader remains “steadfast and firm in commanding the field,” directly contradicting Israeli claims and reports carried by Reuters and other media outlets citing unnamed sources.
Trump: ‘A Lot of Iranian Leadership Is Gone’
US President Donald Trump said in interviews with ABC News and NBC News that he believes a significant portion of Iran’s leadership was killed in the coordinated strikes.
“A lot of it is, yeah. But we don’t know all, but a lot of it is. It was a very powerful strike,” Trump said, adding that military operations would continue “as long as we wanted to.”
Addressing reports of Khamenei’s death, Trump stated, “We feel that that is a correct story,” while emphasizing that “the people that make all the decisions, most of them are gone.”
Israel Claims Seven Senior Iranian Officials Killed
Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin said in a televised briefing that several high-ranking Iranian officials were killed in the strikes.
Among those Israel claims to have eliminated are:
- Ali Shamkhani, former secretary of Iran’s National Security Council and close adviser to Khamenei
- Mohammad Pakpour, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
- Amir Nasirzadeh, Iran’s defence minister
Defrin said Israeli warplanes targeted multiple sites across Iran, particularly missile launcher installations, but declined to specify how long operations would continue.
Iran Launches ‘Fateh Khyber’ Missile Operation
In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel under what it called Operation “Fateh Khyber.” Air raid sirens sounded across several parts of Israel as explosions were reported.
Missiles reportedly targeted northern Israeli regions and areas near Tel Aviv, indicating a significant escalation in hostilities. Iranian military officials confirmed that multiple missiles and drones struck what they described as key strategic locations inside Israel.
Who Is Khamenei?
Khamenei, 86, has served as Iran’s highest authority since 1989, following the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. As Supreme Leader, he exercised ultimate control over Iran’s political, military, and religious institutions and played a decisive role in shaping domestic policy and foreign relations.
Regional Tensions Soar
The coordinated US-Israeli strikes and Iran’s counterattack have pushed the Middle East into renewed military confrontation, sharply reducing prospects for a diplomatic resolution to Tehran’s long-running nuclear dispute with the West.
With conflicting reports about Khamenei’s status and continued missile exchanges, the situation remains fluid and highly volatile, raising fears of a broader regional war.