- Intelligence reports claim Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran.
- Israel targeted Khamenei’s compound in early Saturday attacks, with photographic evidence reportedly shown to Donald Trump and Israeli officials.
- Iran responded with ballistic missile strikes on US bases in Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE, and targeted the US 5th Fleet in Bahrain.
- US President Donald Trump suggested most of Iran’s leadership was killed and praised the strikes as “tremendous damage.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was reportedly killed during a coordinated air campaign by the United States and Israel on Saturday morning in Tehran, according to intelligence sources. Officials say the ayatollah’s body was recovered from the rubble with shrapnel wounds following what the US described as a “major combat operation.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly received photographic documentation of the strike, and US President Donald Trump was shown images of the aftermath. Trump stated he believed Khamenei was dead, claiming significant damage had been inflicted on Iran’s leadership.
Despite these claims, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman insisted the Supreme Leader was “safe and sound.” Khamenei has not been seen publicly since the attacks, fueling global uncertainty.
In response to the strikes, Iran launched waves of ballistic missiles targeting US military installations in the Gulf, including Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. The US Navy 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain was also hit, marking a swift escalation in the regional conflict.
Ali Larijani, a top aide to Khamenei, warned that Iran would deliver “an unforgettable lesson” to both Israel and the United States, signalling that retaliation is imminent.
The US administration defended the strikes, claiming they were preemptive actions to prevent potential missile attacks on American forces in the region. A senior US official suggested Iran may have been preparing to act first, though other intelligence sources contradicted this claim, saying no indications existed of imminent Iranian strikes.
Israel released a list of senior Iranian figures reportedly killed in the attacks, including military and intelligence leaders such as:
Ali Shamkhani – Secretary of the Iranian Security Council
Mohammad Pakpour – IRGC Commander
Mohammad Shirazi – Head of the Military Bureau
Aziz Nasirzadeh – Defence Minister
Hossein Jabal Amelian – Chairman of SPND
Reza Mozaffari-Nia – Former SPND Chairman
Saleh Asadi – Senior intelligence officer
Trump described the operation as “tremendous damage,” asserting it would take Iran years to rebuild its leadership structure.
Experts warn that American forces could face increasing danger the longer the conflict continues. A former Pentagon official highlighted challenges in defending US bases and allies in the Middle East, citing limited missile interceptors and extensive defensive requirements.
“The longer this goes on, the more vulnerable US forces become to Iranian missiles and drones,” said former Pentagon adviser Katherine Thompson.
The situation has created heightened uncertainty in the Middle East, with global attention on Iran’s response and the potential for wider conflict. Analysts caution that further escalation could strain regional security and draw in international actors.
