Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei Killed in Massive U.S.–Israeli Strikes

By skika Reporter

Tehran, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in a sweeping U.S. and Israeli military offensive that struck Tehran and other key targets across the country, Iranian state television confirmed early Sunday. He was 86.

The unprecedented operation, described by officials as aimed at crippling Iran’s leadership and military command structure, marks the most dramatic escalation in tensions between Tehran and its longtime adversaries in decades.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the death late Saturday, calling Khamenei “one of the most dangerous figures in modern history” and framing the strikes as an opportunity for the Iranian people to “reclaim their future.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the campaign would continue until “the threat posed by the Islamic Republic is eliminated.”

Explosions in Tehran

Residents in Tehran reported massive explosions overnight, with thick plumes of smoke rising from areas believed to house senior government officials and security installations. Communications were intermittently disrupted as security forces deployed across the capital.

Iranian authorities declared 40 days of national mourning. Crowds gathered in central squares Sunday, some chanting vows of revenge, while others remained indoors amid fears of further strikes.

Iran’s powerful military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), vowed “severe and decisive retaliation” against U.S. and Israeli interests in the region. The Guards warned that American bases in Gulf countries would be targeted.

Regional Retaliation

Within hours of the announcement, Iran launched a wave of missile and drone strikes across parts of the Middle East. Explosions were reported near U.S. military facilities in the Gulf and in Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv. Israeli emergency services confirmed casualties, while Gulf states reported damage near strategic installations.

Several countries, including Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Gulf monarchies, temporarily closed their airspace as airlines canceled flights amid mounting instability.

The scale of the U.S. involvement has drawn comparisons to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, though American officials have said the objective is not a ground occupation but the dismantling of Iran’s current leadership structure.

Succession Crisis

Khamenei, who led Iran since 1989 following the death of revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini, wielded ultimate authority over Iran’s military, judiciary, and state broadcasting. His death creates an immediate leadership vacuum in the Islamic Republic.

Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts is responsible for appointing a new supreme leader. However, analysts say the IRGC could exert decisive influence during the transition.

Opposition figures abroad reacted swiftly. Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, said Khamenei’s death marked “the beginning of the end” for clerical rule, though his support inside Iran remains uncertain.

Global Reactions

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session, with several member states urging immediate de-escalation. Oil prices surged in early trading amid fears of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies.

Regional powers are bracing for prolonged instability as both Washington and Tehran signal that further action remains possible.

For many Iranians, the coming days may prove decisive — determining whether the death of the country’s longest-serving leader ushers in reform, intensified repression, or a broader regional war.