Iran’s Supreme Leader Reportedly Killed in US-Israel Strike – Escalating Tensions

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Reportedly Killed in Joint U.S.-Israeli Operation, Trump Announces

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in a large-scale attack launched by Israel and the United States, President Donald Trump announced Saturday, confirming an assassination that he said gave the Iranian people their “greatest opportunity” to “take back their country,” but also raising questions about the future of the Islamic Republic and escalating the risk of regional instability.

The attacks opened a latest and startling chapter in U.S. Intervention in Iran, marking the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has struck the country amid talks over its nuclear program. Khamenei’s reported death, after decades in power, was certain to create a significant leadership vacuum given the absence of a known successor and because the Supreme Leader held the final say on all major policies. He led Iran’s clerical establishment and the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, the two main centers of power in the ruling theocracy.

In a nationally televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “growing signs” that 86-year-old Khamenei had been struck when Israel targeted his compound early Saturday. Shortly after the address, two Israeli officials confirmed his death to CBS News. Both spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement and provided no further details.

As reports of the death surfaced, witnesses in Tehran told the Associated Press that some residents were celebrating, whistling and shouting in the streets.

Attacks Follow Months of Escalating Tensions

The joint U.S.-Israel operation, officials said was planned over months, took place on Saturday during the holy month of Ramadan and at the start of the Iranian work week.

As the strike against Iran unfolded, Trump urged the Iranian public to “take charge of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership. In a video announcing “major combat operations,” Trump told Iranians that “when we’re finished, you take back your government. It will be yours to carry. This will probably be your only chance in generations.”

An Iranian diplomat told the United Nations Security Council that hundreds of civilians were killed and wounded in the attacks.

Iranian state media reported at least 201 people were killed and over 700 wounded, citing the Iranian Red Crescent. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. Military bases in the region, with exchanges of fire continuing into the night.

Twelve hours after the attacks began, the U.S. Military reported no American casualties and minimal damage to U.S. Bases despite “hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks.” The military said targets in Iran included Revolutionary Guard command facilities, air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

Several members of Iran’s governing body were targeted in the attack. Israel said it killed a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the country’s defense minister. The Israeli military also claimed its strikes killed the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, a close advisor to Khamenei.

Some of the initial attacks against Iran reportedly struck near Khamenei’s offices, the second leader of the Islamic Republic to succeed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Before Israeli officials confirmed the death, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that the Ayatollah and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive “as far as I know,” calling the attack “unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegitimate.”

Failed Nuclear Talks

Tensions had spiked in recent weeks as U.S. Warships moved to the region. Trump said he wanted a deal restricting Tehran’s nuclear program, at a time when the country faces growing discontent following a wave of nationwide protests.

The trigger for Saturday’s attacks appeared to be the recent round of failed nuclear talks held Thursday. They also reflect the drastic shifts that have left Iran’s governing body in its weakest position since the Islamic Revolution nearly half a century ago.

While Trump claimed last year that Iran’s nuclear program had been “annihilated” in a previous round of attacks, the country was rebuilding infrastructure it had lost, and intelligence showed Iran had developed the ability to produce its own high-quality centrifuges, a key step toward developing uranium highly enriched for weapons. This, according to a senior U.S. Official who spoke to reporters on background.

The Israeli and U.S. Attacks in June significantly weakened Iran’s air defenses, military leadership, and nuclear program. A regional war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has left Iran’s network of allies across the Middle East severely weakened. U.S. Sanctions and global isolation have decimated the Iranian economy.

Iran responded to the recent attacks by launching missiles and drones at Israel, as well as attacks on U.S. Military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. The Israeli military said Iran fired “dozens” of missiles at Israel, many of which were intercepted. Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service reported 89 people with “minor injuries.”

Confirmed vs. Unclear

As of Sunday, March 1, 2026, several key details remain unconfirmed. While President Trump and Israeli officials have stated that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint military operation, Iranian state media maintains that both Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are “safe and sound.” USA Today reports that an Israeli source confirmed Khamenei’s death to them, but details remain scarce. The extent of casualties beyond the initial reports of 201 deaths and 700+ injuries in Iran is also unclear. The full scope of the targets struck and the damage inflicted remains unverified.

What *is* confirmed: a large-scale military operation involving the U.S. And Israel took place on Saturday, February 28, 2026. President Trump publicly announced the reported death of Ayatollah Khamenei. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated “growing signs” of Khamenei’s death. CBS News confirms multiple sources within both the U.S. And Israeli governments corroborated the claim. The operation follows months of escalating tensions and failed nuclear negotiations.

Background: The Role of the Supreme Leader

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 revolution. The Supreme Leader is the highest political and religious authority in Iran, with ultimate authority over all branches of government. He commands the armed forces and appoints key officials, including the president. The position is central to the Islamic Republic’s theocratic system. The Hill provides further context on the significance of this role.

What Happens Next?

The immediate aftermath of this event is highly uncertain. The Iranian government’s response is likely to be significant, potentially involving further military action or escalation of regional conflicts. The lack of a clear successor to Khamenei introduces a period of potential instability within Iran’s leadership structure. The international community will be closely monitoring the situation, with potential implications for global energy markets and regional security. The U.S. And Israel will likely maintain a heightened state of alert, anticipating potential retaliatory strikes.