Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly been killed following large-scale strikes by the United States and Israel, according to international news agencies and Israeli media, citing unnamed “senior” Israeli officials.
A senior Israeli official told Fox News Digital that Khamenei’s compound was reduced to rubble.
The supreme leader has ruled Iran since 1989 and was among the Islamist activists who played a central role in the 1979 revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
He was a close ally of Iran’s first supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and rose through the new system to serve as president from 1981 to 1989, then became supreme leader after Khomeini’s death that same year.
Decades in power, Khamenei consolidated control over Iran’s political and security system, presiding over repeated crackdowns on dissent and maintaining a hardline posture toward the United States and Jerusalem.
Also, a senior Israeli official told Reuters that the Iranian leader, born April 19, 1939, in Mashhad, eastern Iran, is dead and that his body has been found following strikes targeting key Iranian sites.
Iranian state-linked media however says Khamenei alive and well. The country’s semi-official Tasnim and Mehr news agencies reported that the country’s supreme leader is “steadfast and firm in commanding the field”, contradicting reports from Reuters and Israeli media that he was killed in the U.S.-Israeli air strikes.
Reports by Israel military
Earlier reports also indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been presented with footage allegedly showing Khamenei’s body.
The Israeli military claimed it killed several other top Iranian security officials including defense minister, most senior adviser to the president, the intelligence chief and head of military bureau.
According to the reports, several senior U.S. officials including President Donald Trump have also been briefed on the claims that Iran’s supreme leader was killed during the attacks.
In an interview with NBC News, Trump said he believes reports that Khamenei was killed in airstrikes are accurate. He added that “most” of Iran’s senior leadership is “gone,” saying, “The people that make all the decisions, most of them are gone.”
However, Iranian authorities have strongly rejected the claims, describing them as part of a coordinated information campaign.
Also Read: Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei Names Successors Should US and Israel Eliminate Him
Iranian state media cited the head of public relations at the Supreme Leader’s office as saying that “the enemy is resorting to mental warfare, all should be aware.”
Earlier reports indicated that Khamenei had been cut off from communication following Israeli strikes that targeted his compound in Tehran.
Israeli officials told Walla that there was uncertainty about his condition, with preliminary assessments suggesting he may have been injured in the attack. Iranian officials had earlier promised to release a recording from Khamenei to prove he was safe.
No official confirmation of Khamenei’s death has been issued by Iranian authorities.
Netanyahu claims signs Khamenei may be “gone”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement earlier said there were growing indications that Khamenei may no longer be alive.
Netanyahu said there were “many signs” that the Iranian supreme leader was “gone,” while indicating that Israel’s military operation inside Iran would continue as long as necessary.
He also urged Iranian citizens to rise against the government, describing the military campaign as an opportunity for political change in the country.
Earlier, unverified reports circulated on social media claiming that members of his family were killed in the strikes.
Young Journalists Club reported, citing a member of the Tehran City Council, that Khamenei’s son-in-law and daughter-in-law were killed.
The claims were circulated on Telegram channels and later shared by independent reporters and online networks.
Also Read: Netanyahu Says Iran Leader Khamenei May Be ‘Gone’ as Reports Claim Family Members Killed
The reports did not specify which family members were involved and have not been independently verified.
Khamenei has three sons and two daughters, all of whom are married, but the identities of the relatives allegedly killed were not identified in the circulating reports.
U.S. confirms major combat operations
The uncertainty over Khamenei’s fate comes after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes across Iran targeting what President Trump in a video described as strategic military and regime-linked installations.
“A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran,” Trump said.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”
Trump urged members of Iran’s armed forces to surrender and called on Iranians to overthrow their government.
“Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take; this will be probably your only chance for generations,” he said.
“America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny.”
American embassies in Israel and Qatar issued shelter-in-place orders for U.S. citizens following the strikes.
Iran retaliates
Iran launched retaliatory attacks across the Middle East following the strikes, with reported missile activity in several countries hosting U.S. military installations or allied forces.
Apparent Iranian attacks were reported in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Explosions were also reported across multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Karaj.
Iranian officials said the country could begin retaliation within hours of the strikes. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Khamenei was still alive “as far as I know,” while insisting that most senior officials remained safe.
“Almost all officials are safe and sound and alive. We may have lost one or two commanders, but that is not a big problem,” he said.
Araghchi also rejected suggestions that military action could lead to regime change.
“You cannot do regime change while millions of people are supporting this so-called regime,” he said.
He added that Iran remained open to de-escalation but said there was currently no direct communication with Washington.
Iranian authorities also downplayed the scale of damage from the strikes, saying the country’s missile program was defensive and intentionally limited in range.
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