Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Israel said Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike, but Iranian authorities have not confirmed the claim, leaving the situation highly uncertain.
Israeli officials told U.S. counterparts that Khamenei, 86, died in a strike on his compound as part of a large-scale joint military campaign with the United States. An Israeli official also told Axios that intelligence indicated his body had been recovered from the rubble.
In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said airstrikes had destroyed the supreme leader’s compound and that “all indications show this tyrant is no longer with us.” Israeli media outlets, including Channel 12 and the public broadcaster Kan, reported similar assessments citing senior officials.
There has been no confirmation from Tehran, and Iranian state media had not reported Khamenei’s death as of the latest updates. The absence of official Iranian acknowledgment leaves the claim unverified.
Khamenei has led Iran since 1989 following the death of revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini. As supreme leader, he holds ultimate authority over Iran’s military, judiciary, and state media, as well as the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Israeli officials said the strikes also targeted senior commanders in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and political leadership, potentially disrupting Iran’s chain of command. They added that Khamenei’s sons were also targeted but are believed to have survived. One son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has long been viewed by some analysts as a possible successor.
Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts a body of clerics, is responsible for selecting a new supreme leader. However, the reported scale of the strikes raises the prospect of a turbulent succession process if Khamenei’s death is confirmed.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a video address that Iranians should remain indoors during the bombing campaign but later “take over your government,” while exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi called on security forces to side with protesters.
Analysts warn that without independent confirmation, the situation remains fluid and could have major implications for regional stability if verified.
