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Israel says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed following an unprecedented joint military assault by the United States and Israel, though Iranian officials insist he remains alive.
A senior Israeli official told Reuters that Khamenei’s body had been recovered after the strikes. In contrast, Iranian outlets Tasnim and Mehr reported that the supreme leader was still directing operations, describing him as “steadfast and firm.” The conflicting claims could not be independently verified.
Leadership targeted in sweeping operation
The large-scale air campaign, described by Israel as its biggest ever, hit hundreds of sites across Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes destroyed Khamenei’s compound and eliminated multiple senior figures, including Revolutionary Guard commanders and nuclear officials.
Sources familiar with the operation said Iran’s Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Pakpour were among those killed. Iranian media also reported fatalities within Khamenei’s extended family.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the goal was to remove what he called a long-standing nuclear threat from Tehran. Speaking later to NBC News, Trump said he believed reports of Khamenei’s death were accurate and claimed that “most” of Iran’s senior leadership had been eliminated.
Iran denies and retaliates
Tehran condemned the attacks as illegal aggression and launched missile strikes toward Israel and several Gulf countries hosting U.S. forces. Iran warned it could escalate further, with a Revolutionary Guards commander saying the weapons used so far were only “scrap missiles.”
The Pentagon reported that U.S. forces had intercepted hundreds of incoming drones and missiles without suffering casualties.
Iran also warned it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route, raising fears of a spike in global energy prices and prompting airlines to suspend regional flights.
Civilians gripped by fear
Explosions across multiple Iranian cities triggered widespread panic. Residents described scenes of chaos as air defenses and incoming strikes shook urban areas.
“We are terrified… we have nowhere to go,” said Minou, a 32-year-old mother in Tabriz, speaking by phone.
Iranian state media reported that a girls’ primary school in the southern town of Minab was struck, killing 85 people, though the claim has not been independently confirmed and Israel did not immediately comment.
Regional tensions surge
Missile alerts sounded across Israel as Iranian barrages triggered nationwide warnings. Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait also reported attacks or interceptions linked to the Iranian response.
The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging an immediate halt to the fighting.
High-stakes gamble
The strikes mark the most dramatic escalation in the decades-long confrontation between Washington, Israel and Tehran. Trump framed the operation as necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons and even urged Iranians to rise against their government after the bombing ends.
The move has already drawn criticism from some U.S. lawmakers who argue a prolonged war would require congressional approval.
Markets are bracing for turbulence. Analysts warn oil prices could jump sharply if the conflict widens, particularly given Iran’s role as a major OPEC producer and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz.
