WASHINGTON – A major joint military operation by the United States and Israel has killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, US President Donald Trump announced Saturday, saying the assassination gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back their country.”
The reported killing of the 86-year-old leader, who has ruled Iran since 1989, marks a dramatic escalation of U.S. involvement and creates uncertainty about the future of the Islamic Republic, which has no clear successor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address that there were “increasing indications” that Khamenei was killed during an Israeli attack on his compound early Saturday morning. Two Israeli officials later confirmed his death, speaking on condition of anonymity pending official announcement.
The attack opens a new chapter in tensions between the United States and Iran, marking the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has attacked Iran during negotiations over its nuclear program.
Khamenei held ultimate authority over all major Iranian policies and oversaw the country’s two main power centers: the clerical organization and the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards. His death is expected to create a significant leadership vacuum.
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Israel announces killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei
Witnesses said some residents of Tehran were seen celebrating after news of his killing spread.
In a video speech announcing a “massive combat operation,” President Trump called on Iranians to “take control of their own destiny” and “take over the government” once the election campaign is over.
Iran retaliated with missiles and drones targeting Israeli and U.S. military bases in the region, and the gunfight continued into the night. The U.S. military said there were no casualties and minimal damage despite “hundreds of missile and drone strikes by Iran.”
Iranian targets included Revolutionary Guard command facilities, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields, U.S. officials said.
Israeli authorities announced that senior Iranian military officials, including the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, the Iranian defense minister, and the secretary of Iran’s Security Council, were also killed in the airstrike.
If Khamenei’s reported death is fully confirmed by the Iranian government, it would be the most significant development in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and could completely change the political landscape in the region.
