Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed in strikes, Israel says
Reuters And Associated Press
Israeli officials say Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the operation after the United States and Israel launched their most ambitious attack on the country in decades.
A senior Israeli official told Reuters that Khamenei’s body had been found. Iran has described the attacks as unprovoked and illegal and responded with missiles fired at at least seven countries, including Israel and Gulf states that host US bases.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech broadcast on national television that there were many signs that Khamenei was “no more” and called on the Iranians to finish the job.
He said Khamenei’s compound was destroyed and Revolutionary Guard commanders and senior nuclear officials were killed.
Shortly after the speech, two Israeli officials said Israel confirmed his death to the AP. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity until an official announcement and did not provide further details.
Israeli military officials confirmed that Iranian Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammed Pakpour, as well as five other senior Iranian officers, were killed in the initial Israeli-led strikes. Iranian media had previously reported that Ali Khamenei’s son-in-law and daughter-in-law were also killed.
Although there was no official statement from the Trump administration, a Fox News reporter, citing a US official, said that the US believes that Ali Khamenei and five to 10 senior Iranian leaders were killed in the first Israeli attack.
While reports of the Ayatollah’s death were denied by Iran, Iranian state media quoted a source close to Ali Khamenei’s office as saying that the leader remained “determined and determined to rule the field.”
If confirmed, the assassination of the Islamic Republic’s second leader, whose successor is unknown, would throw the future into doubt.
