Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Killed in Joint U.S.-Israeli Strikes, Trump Says
TEHRAN IRAN, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in a joint American and Israeli strike, according to U.S. President Donald Trump and later confirmed by Iranian state media.
Trump announced the development on his Truth Social platform, writing that Khamenei was dead and describing the operation as a major strategic success carried out in coordination with Israel.
Satellite images earlier showed significant damage to Khamenei’s compound in Tehran following large-scale air raids. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had indicated there were growing signs the Iranian leader was “gone” before Iranian state media later confirmed his death in a televised announcement. The country has declared 40 days of mourning.
The strikes reportedly targeted multiple sites across Iran, with explosions heard in Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, Qom and Kermanshah. The Israel Defense Forces said approximately 200 fighter jets struck around 500 objectives in what it described as one of the largest operations in its history.
Iran’s Red Crescent reported at least 201 people were killed and hundreds more injured, though it did not specify how many were civilians or military personnel. A girls’ school in Minab was reportedly struck, resulting in significant casualties. The BBC has verified footage showing damage near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base in the area.
Iran’s foreign minister condemned the strikes as “wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate.” The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting, and several world leaders criticized the escalation. The UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement urging Iran to refrain from further strikes and abandon its weapons programs.
In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks across parts of the Middle East. Explosions were reported in Dubai, and U.S. bases in Bahrain and Qatar were reportedly targeted. Strikes were also reported in Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan. Israel confirmed at least one fatality in a missile strike in the Tel Aviv area.
Iranian media reported that the strategic Hormuz Strait would be closed following the attacks. The waterway handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply, raising concerns about global energy markets.
The strikes came after three rounds of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran. Mediators had previously indicated progress, but Trump said he was dissatisfied with the pace of talks and authorized the military action.
The situation remains fluid as global leaders assess the geopolitical consequences of the unprecedented escalation.
