Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reportedly been killed, and his body recovered following Israeli strikes on his compound earlier today.
Senior Israeli officials confirmed to multiple news outlets that Khamenei is dead after the strikes. Axios reported that the Israeli ambassador to the US informed US officials that Khamenei was killed, and Reuters cited a senior official who said Khamenei’s body had been found. The confirmations came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “growing signs” that the Iranian leader is “gone.”
Satellite imagery had also shown heavy damage to Khamenei’s fortified compound, including buildings that are believed to be his residence. Iran, however, pushed back against the preliminary reports, as state media reported that a source close to Khamenei’s office said the Ayatollah is “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.”
President Donald Trump first addressed the reports that Khamenei had been killed in an interview with NBC News, saying, “We feel that is a correct story.” He confirmed that “most” of the senior leadership in Iran has been killed. Later on Saturday, he confirmed on Truth Social that Khamenei was killed.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS,” the president wrote. “He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do. This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country. We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us.”
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, has been the supreme leader of Iran since 1989. As the most powerful figure in the country, he served as the head of state and commander-in-chief, with authority over both the national police and the morality policy. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the paramilitary branch of the Iranian military, has answered directly to Khamenei.
This is a breaking story.