NEWS
CONFIRMED? Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Reportedly Killed — What Happens to Iran Now? If you want it even more dramatic and clickable: CONFIRMED BY SOURCES: Ali Khamenei Reportedly Dead After U.S.–Israel Strike — What Happens Next Could Change the Middle East Forever
📌 Breaking: Iran’s Supreme Leader Reportedly Dead After U.S.–Israel Strikes
In a dramatic escalation of the Middle East conflict on February 28, 2026, senior Israeli officials have claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in coordinated military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. These attacks, described by some Western officials as part of Operation Epic Fury, targeted key leadership, military infrastructure, and nuclear‑related sites across Iran, including locations in the capital, Tehran.
According to an Israeli source cited by Reuters, Khamenei’s body was reportedly found under rubble after the strikes, though independent verification and confirmation from Iranian authorities are not yet available. Tehran has so far denied that the supreme leader was killed, and state media has called many claims a form of psychological warfare.
🧨 What Officials Are Saying
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated there were “many signs” Khamenei may no longer be alive, describing the assault on his compound as a key part of the operation. �
Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly backed reports of Khamenei’s death, calling it a historic moment and a chance for the Iranian people to challenge their government. �
Iran’s government and foreign officials have contested these claims, insisting Khamenei — and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian — remain safe and urging caution about unverified reports.
📍 What Happened in the Strikes
The strikes on Saturday involved multiple waves of aerial bombardment and missile attacks from U.S. and Israeli forces. Sources say they hit not only government and military sites but also the leadership complex in Tehran believed to be associated with Iran’s clerical leadership. Casualties from the attacks include not only political figures but hundreds of civilians, with wounded numbers reportedly in the hundreds and deaths across several provinces.
In response, Iran reportedly launched missiles and drone attacks targeting Israeli territory and U.S. forces stationed in neighbouring countries, prompting fears of a widening regional conflict.
⚠️ No Official Independent Confirmation Yet
While Israeli and some Western sources report Khamenei’s death, there remains no universally confirmed account from international organisations or independent media verifying the claim. Iranian officials have described parts of the reporting as misinformation, saying he and other leaders were safe.
This uncertainty over the leader’s status has created significant confusion and a highly volatile geopolitical situation, with states around the world watching developments closely.
🕊 Legacy and Power Vacuum
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, became Iran’s supreme leader in 1989 after the death of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ruhollah Khomeini. For more than three decades, he wielded ultimate authority over Iran’s political, military, and religious institutions, shaping its policies regionally and domestically. His leadership saw expansion of Iran’s influence through allied militant groups such as Hezbollah and increased tensions with Western powers over nuclear ambitions and regional interventions.
If his death is confirmed, Iran will likely face a significant leadership transition and potential internal power struggles. The Assembly of Experts, a clerical body with the authority to select the next supreme leader, would move to appoint a successor, but in a moment of heightened conflict, that process could be fraught with risk and uncertainty.
🌍 Global and Regional Reaction
The strikes and Khamenei’s reported death have sparked reactions across the world:
Middle East governments have called for calm and condemned further escalation.
Western allies have voiced concern, urging diplomacy even as some support steps against Iran’s militarised activities.
Economic markets, particularly oil, saw sharp movement due to fear of extended regional conflict.
United Nations officials stressed the need for de‑escalation to avoid a broader war.