BREAKING: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Killed in US–Israeli Strikes
March 1, 2026
Tehran / Middle East: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been confirmed killed following coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel, according to state media and multiple international news outlets. (Al Jazeera)
Iranian state television announced early Sunday that Khamenei, 86, was killed on Saturday during the attacks and declared a 40-day period of national mourning. (Gulf News)
State media reported that he was at his office in Tehran when strikes hit key leadership targets, ending his more than three decades in power. (mint)
US President Donald Trump earlier posted that Khamenei’s death had occurred as part of the joint operation, describing it as a major blow to the Iranian regime. (PBS)
The assault, which targeted strategic military and political locations, also reportedly killed senior Iranian officials and members of Khamenei’s family, according to local reports. (Illinois Newsroom)
This marks an unprecedented shift in the Middle East: Khamenei had been Iran’s highest authority since 1989, guiding domestic politics and foreign policy, particularly in the region’s long-standing tensions with the US and Israel. (The Economic Times)
The situation remains volatile, with Iran vowing retaliation and regional security concerns rising sharply.
More details are expected as developments continue.
source, Al Jazeera
