Israeli media say ‘growing indications’ that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in US and Israeli strike
It is claimed that there are “growing indications” that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the first wave of US and Israeli attacks earlier today.
Israeli media outlet Channel 12 said unnamed Israeli sources had uncovered “growing indications” that the leader had been killed or “at least injured” during this morning’s airstrikes.
Officials have previously reported that the attacks caused “very serious damage” to the Iranian regime’s leaders and military commanders.
Khamenei has not been heard from since the US and Israel launched a bilateral attack on Iran on Saturday morning.
Israeli sources said today that President Donald Trump specifically targeted Iran’s religious leader in the first wave of joint missile attacks with Israel.
The first explosions are believed to have occurred near Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s offices in the capital Tehran.
An Israeli official said the consequences of the attacks were unclear, with earlier reports suggesting the religious leader had been moved from Tehran to a safe location.
It was reported that Khamenei’s palace and his compound in Tehran were completely destroyed in today’s operation.
There are ‘growing indications’ that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the first wave of US and Israeli attacks earlier today
Images show smoke rising into the sky above Khamenei complex
In video footage from Tehran, smoke is seen rising into the sky this morning over the compound, which is understood to be used as an official residence in the Iranian capital.
Screams and giggles were heard from a nearby rooftop as bystanders watched the explosion. ‘Oh my God, they shot me. They shot. “Oh my God,” a woman screams.
This comes after the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the ‘architect’ of the regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters was said to have been killed in the attacks.
Israeli sources said they believed Revolutionary Guard commander General Mohammed Pakpour had been eliminated.
Today the US and Israel jointly launched a wave of attacks across Iran, with President Trump issuing a statement effectively telling Iranian troops to ‘surrender or die’.
The two countries hit targets in cities such as Tehran, Bushehr, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah and Isfahan. In the capital, Khamenei’s palace, his compound, the Ministry of Intelligence and the Ministry of Defense were all affected.
Elsewhere, the two countries struck southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure and the area said to host Iranian-backed militia groups in Al-Nasr, Iraq.
In a post published on Truth Social, Trump told the Ayatollah to “surrender or die” while announcing that the United States had launched attacks on several Iranian cities.
He said: ‘To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the armed forces and all the police, I say tonight you must lay down your weapons and have full immunity.
‘Or alternatively you will face certain death. Then release your arms. ‘You will be treated fairly and given complete immunity, otherwise you will face certain death.’
Iran said there would be an ‘overwhelming response’ and launched missiles across Israel, including Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem.
The country’s military said in a statement that all US ‘bases, resources and assets’ were ‘legitimate targets’.
Dramatic footage shows the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, Iran, with smoke rising into the sky like a giant mushroom after an explosion.
Aerial photos show the Iranian supreme leader’s compound in Tehran being destroyed after Donald Trump launched joint US-Israeli airstrikes on the city
People watch as smoke rises on the horizon after the explosion in Tehran, Iran
President Trump announced on Saturday morning that the US had begun ‘major combat operations’ in Iran, sending thick black smoke into the sky.
A man looks on as smoke rises after a reported explosion in Tehran
Iran also targeted US infrastructure at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and areas in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Explosions were reported in Dubai and Jordan shot down two ballistic missiles.
Iran and Israel continue to exchange fire in multiple waves of attacks across the Middle East this afternoon.
Countries around the world are calling for calm and urgent de-escalation, with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer holding an emergency Cobra meeting in Downing Street today.
President Trump is expected to give an update later on today’s operation, dubbed ‘Epic Rage’ by Americans.
Khamenei, 86, has been Iran’s religious leader since 1989, when he succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic.
Khamenei had ultimate control over all branches of the Iranian government, the military, and the judiciary.
He was also the country’s spiritual leader for the decades he was in control.
Khamenei’s dictatorship was marked by hostile relations with the West and especially the United States.
His relationship with Donald Trump’s administration has deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks as American warships entered the region and Trump has said he wants a deal to restrict Iran’s nuclear program.
As Iran became consumed by its own opposition with nationwide protests, the US president saw an opportunity to assert his influence.
Khamenei hoped to prevent a war but argued that his country had the right to enrich uranium.
He has long said that Iran would never build nuclear weapons and that the development of this technology was for civilian purposes only.
