Iranian state media has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli military operation on Saturday, February 28, 2026, marking a historic and devastating blow to the Islamic Republic of Iran. The 86-year-old leader, who ruled Iran for 37 years, died in his Tehran compound during coordinated airstrikes that President Donald Trump called “major combat operations.”
The death of Iran’s supreme leader unfolded rapidly over 24 hours, with initial reports from US and Israeli officials followed by Iranian state media confirmation on Sunday morning.
President Trump announced Khamenei’s death on his Truth Social platform Saturday, stating the longtime Iranian leader “couldn’t escape US Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems.” Hours later, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency confirmed: “His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, was martyred in the joint attack launched by America and the Zionist regime.”
According to Iranian media reports, Khamenei was in his office at his official residence when the first wave of strikes hit in the early morning hours. Iran’s Fars News Agency reported he was conducting official duties at the time of the attack. Iranian state media also confirmed that Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were killed in the strikes.
The Iranian government declared 40 days of national mourning and seven days of public holidays following what they termed the “martyrdom” of the ayatollah. This confirmation ended hours of speculation about Khamenei’s status after Trump’s announcement and Israeli military statements.
Multiple Senior Officials Also Killed
The strikes on Iran weren’t limited to Ayatollah Khamenei. Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Effie Defrin confirmed that several top Iranian military and political leaders were eliminated in the coordinated operation:
Senior Officials Killed:
- Mohammad Pakpour — IRGC Commander
- Amir Nasirzadeh — Iran’s Defense Minister
- Ali Shamkhani — Senior adviser to Khamenei
- Mohammad Bagheri — Chief of Staff of Iranian Armed Forces
- Javad Pourhossein — Head of Foreign Intelligence Unit
- Mohammad-Reza Bajestani — Senior Intelligence Commander
Israeli officials told Reuters the operation targeted approximately 30 top military and civilian leaders overall, decimating Iran’s chain of command. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the strikes aimed to “create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands.”
Proxy Networks, Nuclear Ambitions, and Regional Influence
Under Ayatollah Khamenei’s leadership, Iran developed extensive proxy networks across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. He championed Iran’s ballistic missile program and pursued nuclear capabilities, positioning the Islamic Republic as a major regional power despite decades of Western sanctions.
However, by the time of his death, much of that legacy lay in ruins. Israel had significantly weakened both Hamas and Hezbollah, destroyed Iran’s air defenses, and with US assistance, severely damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. As NPR noted, Khamenei’s legacy “is in tatters.”
Massive Strikes Target 24 Provinces
Saturday’s military operation was unprecedented in scale. According to Iranian Red Crescent reports cited by Al Jazeera, the strikes targeted 24 provinces across Iran, killing at least 201 people. Tragically, Israeli forces struck two schools, killing at least 108 people at the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab and two others at a school east of Tehran.
Trump indicated that “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary.” The US Central Command released video footage of missile strikes as the operation unfolded.
Iran Retaliates Counterattacks Across Middle East
Iran didn’t remain passive. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced ongoing “retaliatory” strikes against US and Israeli positions on Saturday evening. Iranian counterattacks triggered air-defense interceptions in Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain — all countries hosting US military assets.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed revenge, stating: “This great crime will not go unanswered and will create a new chapter in the history of the Islamic and Shia world. The pure blood of this respected leader will rise like a flowing spring and will root out American-Zionist oppression.”
Ayatollah Khamenei Short Biography
- Born: 1939, Mashhad, Iran
- Became Supreme Leader: 1989 (following Ayatollah Khomeini’s death)
- Age at Death: 86 years old
- Years in Power: 37 years (1989-2026)
- Predecessor: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
- Cause of Death: Killed in US-Israeli airstrikes on his Tehran compound