Iran has confirmed that its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in coordinated strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, marking a major escalation in regional tensions. Iranian media reported that Khamenei died after his office was targeted in a large-scale assault, dealing a significant blow to the country’s leadership.
The strikes were conducted on Saturday under the codename “Operation Epic Fury,” during which US and Israeli forces launched intense attacks on key targets in Iran, including Khamenei’s office. The Iranian government subsequently announced 40 days of national mourning. The confirmation from Tehran came shortly after US President Donald Trump publicly declared that Khamenei had been killed.
According to media reports citing US officials, the operation was executed based on precise intelligence, with Khamenei reportedly holding a meeting with senior officials at the time of the strike. Israeli media had earlier stated that their senior leadership had clear information regarding his death even before Iran’s official announcement. Iranian authorities are said to have recovered his body from the debris of the targeted site.
Reports also indicated that photographs related to the aftermath of the strike were viewed by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iranian media further stated that several members of Khamenei’s family — including his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter — were killed in the attack, and it is believed that his daughter-in-law was also among the deceased.