Iran’s supreme leader reportedly killed in major US-Israel strikes, Trump says

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in a large-scale joint military operation carried out by the United States and Israel, a development that, if confirmed, could dramatically reshape the political future of the Islamic Republic and escalate instability across the Middle East.

“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump wrote in a social media post, adding that “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue in the coming days as part of what he described as a necessary effort to disable Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Iran did not immediately confirm Khamenei’s death.

The reported assassination marks a stunning escalation in U.S. intervention in Iran and could trigger retaliatory violence across the region and beyond. It also underscores a significant shift for Trump, who returned to office after campaigning on an “America First” platform that emphasized avoiding prolonged foreign conflicts.

If verified, Khamenei’s killing in what would be the second Trump-ordered strike on Iran within eight months could create a leadership vacuum in Tehran. The 86-year-old cleric, who succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, held final authority over major state policies, overseeing both the country’s clerical establishment and the powerful paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Eyewitnesses in Tehran told The Associated Press that some residents celebrated as reports of Khamenei’s death spread, though Iranian officials warned of severe retaliation.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, declared that Israel and the United States would “regret their actions,” writing on X that “the brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will deliver an unforgettable lesson to the hellish international oppressors.”

Months of Rising Tensions

U.S. and Israeli officials said the operation had been planned for months. The coordinated strikes occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and at the start of Iran’s workweek, following stalled negotiations and renewed warnings from Washington over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

About 12 hours after the operation began, the U.S. military reported no American casualties and minimal damage to U.S. installations despite what it described as “hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks.” Targets inside Iran reportedly included Revolutionary Guard command centers, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.

Israel said it had also killed senior Iranian officials, including the commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps and the country’s defense minister.

An Iranian diplomat told the United Nations Security Council that hundreds of civilians were killed or wounded in the strikes. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and targeting U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Exchanges of fire continued into the night.

Israel’s military said Iran fired “dozens” of missiles, many of which were intercepted. Emergency service Magen David Adom reported 89 people lightly injured.

In southern Iran, at least 115 people were reported killed when a girls’ school was struck, according to local authorities speaking to state television. U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said officials were aware of the reports and were investigating.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported at least 15 additional fatalities in the southwest, citing damage to residential areas and public facilities.

Regional Fallout

The escalation has disrupted flights across the Middle East and raised concerns over the security of critical maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a third of global seaborne oil exports passed in 2025.

Saudi Arabia said it repelled an Iranian attack targeting its capital and eastern region. Bahrain reported missile strikes aimed at the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters, with drone debris damaging buildings in Manama and Muharraq. Kuwait and Qatar also reported drone and missile activity, while Jordan said it intercepted 49 drones and ballistic missiles.

In the United States, several Democratic lawmakers criticized the president for taking military action without congressional authorization. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said congressional leaders from both parties had been briefed in advance.

Trump acknowledged the possibility of American casualties, stating that “that often happens in war.” He said the objective was to “annihilate” Iran’s navy and dismantle regional proxies backed by Tehran. He also called on members of the Revolutionary Guard to surrender, offering immunity or warning of “certain death.”

Uncertain Political Future

Khamenei’s reported death leaves unanswered questions about succession in Iran’s theocratic system, where no clear successor has been publicly identified.

The strikes come amid sustained domestic unrest in Iran. The Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported more than 7,000 deaths in a government crackdown on nationwide protests, though Iranian authorities have acknowledged more than 3,000 fatalities.

As the situation continues to unfold, the potential for broader regional conflict remains high, with global markets and diplomatic relations likely to feel the effects of one of the most consequential military escalations in recent Middle Eastern history.

This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.