Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli strike on Saturday, February 28, as part of a large-scale joint military operation conducted by the United States and Israel, Israel’s ambassador to Washington told U.S. officials.
U.S. and Israeli forces launched what they described as a “pre-emptive” strike against Tehran, accusing the Iranian government of pursuing nuclear weapons. The operation triggered retaliation from Iran, with missiles reportedly targeting Israel and other countries across the Middle East.
According to CNN, an Israeli official told Axios that Khamenei had died and that his body was recovered from his destroyed compound, citing Israeli intelligence sources.
Some of the initial strikes reportedly hit areas near the offices of Ayatollah Khamenei. It was not immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was present at the time of the attack, and his death was confirmed several hours later.
Khamenei had ruled Iran since 1989, holding ultimate authority and shaping the direction of the Islamic Republic following the 1979 revolution.
