President Donald Trump confirmed Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed during a joint U.S.-Israel military operation targeting key Iranian leadership and military infrastructure.
“Khamenei … is dead,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling the development “justice” for Americans and others he said were harmed by Iran’s leadership. He added that “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue “as long as necessary” to achieve U.S. objectives in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier said there were increasing signs that Khamenei was killed after Israeli and U.S. forces targeted his compound in Tehran during the opening phase of the strikes.
Targeting of Leadership
According to senior Israeli officials cited by media reports, strikes reduced Khamenei’s compound and offices in Tehran to rubble. The operation is part of a broader campaign aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities and deterring further aggression, U.S. and Israeli officials have said.
Trump stated that U.S. intelligence and advanced tracking systems were used in the mission and said multiple Iranian leaders were killed.
A Major Turning Point
Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic since 1989, served as Iran’s highest political and religious authority. His death marks one of the most consequential moments in decades of tension among Iran, Israel and the United States.
In public statements and social media posts, both Trump and Netanyahu called on the Iranian people to rise up against the country’s ruling system, which has been in place since the 1979 revolution.
Netanyahu described the campaign as an effort to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and said it could create conditions for change within the country.
Ongoing Conflict
The military operation continues amid escalating regional tensions. U.S. officials have characterized the strikes as major combat operations, and further developments are expected as Iran responds and regional leaders assess next steps.
The situation remains fluid, with global leaders closely monitoring the fallout from the unprecedented targeting of Iran’s top leader.
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