Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was allegedly assassinated during an Israeli air strike on his compound in Tehran as part of a joint operation involving Israel and the United States, according to reports Saturday.
Fox News, citing Israeli leadership sources, reported that Khamenei was killed in the strike. The 86-year-old cleric has led the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1989, after previously serving as the country’s president from 1981 to 1989. If confirmed, his death would mark one of the most consequential developments in the Middle East in decades.
The Times of London reported that a senior Israeli official said Khamenei’s body “has been found” under the rubble of the targeted compound following the air strike. The Jerusalem Post further reported that alleged evidence of Khamenei’s body was shown to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a televised address aired before widespread reports of Khamenei’s death circulated, Netanyahu stated that there were indications the Iranian supreme leader was “no more.” He called on the Iranian people to rise up and “free itself from the chains of dictatorship,” framing the moment as a potential turning point for the nation.
Khamenei has been the longest-serving Iranian leader since Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was deposed during the 1979 Islamic Revolution that established the current regime. Over more than three decades in power, Khamenei maintained ultimate authority over Iran’s military, judiciary, and political system, shaping the country’s regional posture and its confrontations with the West.
The reported strike occurred amid a broader, coordinated assault by the United States and Israel targeting senior Iranian officials and military infrastructure. Dozens of high-ranking regime figures were reportedly included in the operation, which has been described as a large-scale effort to dismantle Iran’s leadership structure and strategic capabilities.
As of this writing, Iranian state media has not publicly confirmed Khamenei’s death, and independent verification remains limited. The situation continues to unfold, with global leaders closely monitoring the potential regional and international consequences of the reported strike.
