Iran State Media Confirm Death of Supreme Leader Amid Escalating U.S.–Israel Strikes

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States

Iranian state media confirmed the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations, marking a significant escalation in the Iran conflict and raising concerns about regional stability and leadership succession.

State outlets reported that Khamenei, 86, was killed in an airstrike targeting his compound in central Tehran. Satellite imagery released by Airbus showed extensive damage to the site. Iranian media also stated that his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were killed in the same strike. Independent verification of those reports was not immediately available.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who earlier announced what he described as “major combat operations” in Iran following Israeli missile attacks, said military operations would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary” to meet U.S. objectives. Washington has framed the strikes as part of efforts to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities and broader security threats.

Rescue workers and residents search through the rubble in the aftermath math of a US-Israeli strike at a girls' elementary school in Minab, Iran, on Saturday, February 18, 2026

Iranian state television described Khamenei’s death as occurring while he was carrying out official duties. The office of supreme leader, established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, holds ultimate authority over Iran’s political, military, and religious institutions. His reported death introduces uncertainty regarding Iran’s political transition and the role of the Assembly of Experts in selecting a successor.

Iranian media reported significant civilian casualties, including at least 108 people killed in a strike on a school in southern Iran, and at least 201 deaths reported across 24 provinces. These figures could not be independently confirmed.

In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. assets across multiple Middle East countries, including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, according to Iranian officials. Several governments in the region temporarily closed their airspace amid the exchange of attacks.

Iran’s Cabinet described the killing as a “grave crime” and vowed that it would not go unanswered. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it was preparing what it termed a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israeli and American positions.

The developments represent one of the most consequential moments in recent Middle East geopolitics, intensifying concerns about broader regional conflict, global oil market disruption, and long-term geopolitical risk.