The government of Israel believes Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed following overnight military action carried out with the United States, according to a report by N12 News citing a senior Israeli official.
The report said Israeli authorities assessed that Khamenei was “no longer with us” after coordinated strikes targeted sites linked to Iran’s leadership and military command. No official confirmation has been issued by Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the claim in an interview with NBC News, saying both Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive. He added that most officials were safe, though one or two commanders may have been killed.
Separately, Reuters reported that Iran’s defence minister and the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had been eliminated, though Tehran has not confirmed those claims.
Journalist Barak Ravid, writing on Axios, quoted an Israeli military official as saying three locations hosting senior Iranian leadership gatherings were struck at the same time, killing several key figures involved in military operations and state management.
US President Donald Trump earlier announced that American forces had launched what he called “major combat operations” in Iran, describing the mission as an effort to remove threats posed by the Iranian government. He also urged Iranians to “take over” their country after the campaign ends.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint operation aimed to create conditions for Iranians to determine their political future, calling on various ethnic groups in Iran to seek change.
The situation remains fluid, with conflicting claims and no independent verification of Khamenei’s reported death. Analysts warn that misinformation often spreads quickly during active conflicts, making confirmation difficult in the early stages of military operations.
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