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Assassination of Ali Khamenei

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Assassination of Ali Khamenei
Part of the 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran
Khamenei on 12 February 2026, 16 days before his assassination
TypeAirstrike, decapitation strike, targeted killing
Location
Tehran, Iran
TargetAli Khamenei
Date28 February 2026; 1 day ago (2026-02-28)
Executed by Israeli Air Force
 United States Air Force
Casualties5 (including Khamenei)[1] killed

On 28 February 2026, Ali Khamenei, the second supreme leader of Iran, was assassinated in a joint airstrike operation by the United States and Israel.[2][3][4] Khamenei's assassination occurred during a series of Israeli missile strikes around Tehran, aimed at targeting high-ranking Iranian officials and key strategic locations. Satellite imagery suggested that Khamenei's residence in the city was severely damaged during the attack.

Following initial Israeli reports that Khamenei had been killed in the operation, US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Khamenei was dead. Iranian state media confirmed his death early the following day, and the government announced 40 days of mourning and seven days of public holidays. Four members of Khamenei's immediate family and kin were also killed in the same strikes.

Prior attempts

Main article: Attempted assassination of Ali Khamenei

On 27 June 1981, when Khamenei was a candidate for the Iranian presidency, an assassination attempt was made on him using an explosive, which damaged his vocal cords, lungs and his right arm.[5]: 32  On 15 June 2025, during the Twelve-Day War, Israel put forth a plan to assassinate Khamenei that was vetoed by US president Donald Trump.[6]

Airstrikes

On 28 February 2026, multiple locations in Iran were struck by missiles from the United States and Israel as part of a military operation intended to impede nuclear and missile programs in the country, as well as initiate a regime change.[7][8] With strikes targeting strategic facilities and important Iranian officials, Khamenei's compound was among those affected by Israeli strikes in the capital city Tehran; satellite imagery suggested that the building was severely damaged.[9][10]

Initial reports

Conflicting reports

An unnamed Israeli official said that Khamenei's body was located following the strikes, which was reportedly shown to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[11][12] US president Donald Trump echoed these reports, calling the reported assassination "justice for the people of Iran".[13]

Reports around Khamenei's death were initially disputed by Iranian sources, with Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmail Baghaei stating that Khamenei was "safe and sound".[14][15] Despite this, several outlets, such as Reuters and Iran International,[16] citing Israeli government sources, reported that Khamenei was dead.[17][18][4][19] Following the further spread of the news about the alleged assassination, Iranian news agencies Tasnim and Mehr stated that Khamenei was alive and "steadfast and firm in commanding the field".[11]

Confirmation

Early on 1 March, the Iranian Supreme National Security Council,[20] as well as Iranian state media, including Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, announced that Khamenei had been killed, despite previous steadfast denial. The state declared 40 days of mourning and a seven-day national holiday.[21][22]

The Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and daughter-in-law were killed in the strikes as well.[23][24][25]

Aftermath

Main article: 2026 Iranian leadership crisis

As the position of Supreme Leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts and the position of Vice Supreme Leader was abolished in 1989, Khamenei had no officially appointed successor.[26] However, on the day of the strikes, Reuters reported that in the two weeks prior to the attacks, the CIA had produced assessments on Khamenei's likely succession, concluding that "hardline figures" of the IRGC would be most likely to replace Khamenei.[27] Following the initial announcements of Khamenei's death, celebrations were heard in the capital, and videos of celebrations in cities like Isfahan, Karaj, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Sanandaj, and Shiraz circulated online.[28][16] However, supporters of Khamenei mourned his death near the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, with videos showing several people crying and wailing as others appear collapsed on the floor in grief,[29] and photos showing Iranians mourning his death while holding portraits of him in Enqelab Square, Tehran.[30]

Reactions

Donald Trump, commenting on Khamenei's death, called him "one of the most evil people in history" and announced that the US would continue to bomb Iran. Some members of Congress from the Democratic Party, including Senator John Fetterman, reacted positively to the announcement, while many from the Republican Party, such as Representative Tom Emmer, cheered Trump's post.[31]

Argentina's president Javier Milei praised the Israeli–United States military operations resulting in Khamenei's "elimination", adding that "[Khamenei] was one of the most evil, violent, and cruel persons ever seen in the history of humankind."[32] Milei further blamed Khamenei for Iran's sponsoring of terrorism and the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires, adding that Argentina would continue to pursue others responsible for the attack and make them pay with their freedom or their lives.[32]

Iraqi opposition leader and Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr expressed his "sadness and sorrow" on X after the death of Khamenei.[33] Khamenei's death triggered protests in Baghdad, with demonstrators confronting security forces near the Green Zone and protesters attempting to storm the US embassy and block roads leading to it. Protesters were seen waving flags and shouting slogans while mourning Khamenei.[34]

Embassy of Iran in India strongly condemned the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei by Israeli-US strikes.[35]India's Jammu and Kashmir's Shia association issued a statement mourning the death of his family members.[1] In a statement on X, The association wrote,

We mourn the martyrdom of the family members of Imam Khamenei. Our prayers are with the Leader and the people of Iran.[1]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Daughter and grandchild of Iran's Khamenei killed in US-Israeli strikes, state media says". Reuters. 1 March 2026. Cite error: The named reference ":0" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, state media says". BBC News. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  3. ^ "Live updates: Iran's supreme leader killed in U.S.-Israeli attack; Tehran strikes Israel, Arab states". The Washington Post. 28 February 2026. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Ravid, Barak; Lotz, Avery; Basu, Zachary (28 February 2026). "ISRAEL SAYS IRAN SUPREME LEADER KHAMENEI IS DEAD". Axios. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  5. ^ O'Hern, Steven K. (2012). Iran's Revolutionary Guard: The Threat that Grows While America Sleeps. Potomac Books. ISBN 978-1597977012.
  6. ^ Holland, Steve; Nichols, Michelle; Craft, Diane (15 June 2025). "Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, US officials say". Reuters. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  7. ^ Magid, Jacob (28 February 2026). "Trump indicates goal of Iran strikes is to topple regime; tells Iranian people: 'When we're finished, take over your government'". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Iranian leader Khamenei killed in strikes, Israel says". Reuters. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  9. ^ "See where U.S., Israeli strikes have hit Iran and where Iran has retaliated". The Washington Post. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  10. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (28 February 2026). "Satellite image shows destruction of Khamenei's compound". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "Trump says Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dead after US-Israeli attacks". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Ali Khamenei assassinated in Iran, Israeli officials told". The Jerusalem Post. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Trump confirmed the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei". Time. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  14. ^ Mangan, Dan; Josephs, Leslie; Kimball, Spencer; Haddad, C. J.; Papp, Justin; Novet, Jordan (28 February 2026). "Live updates: Trump says Khamenei is dead; Iran says he's 'safe and sound'". CNBC. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Iran latest: Netanyahu says 'growing signs' Iran's supreme leader Khamenei is 'gone' after US-Israel attacks". BBC News. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead". Iran International. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Live: Khamenei's body has been found and he is confirmed dead, Israeli official says". Reuters. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  18. ^ "Israel's Netanyahu says 'signs' point to Khamenei being dead". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  19. ^ Hjelmgaard, Kim; Collins, Michael; Snider, Mike; Ramaswamy, Swapna Venugopal (28 February 2026). "Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed, Trump says". USA Today. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  20. ^ "اطلاعیه شهادت حضرت آیت‌الله العظمی سیدعلی حسینی خامنه‌ای رهبر انقلاب اسلامی" [Announcement of the martyrdom of His Highness Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution]. Supreme National Security Council (Press release) (in Persian). 1 March 2026. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026 – via KHAMENEI.ir.
  21. ^ "Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, state media says". BBC News. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  22. ^ Fassihi, Farnaz (1 March 2026). "Live Updates: Iran Says Supreme Leader Died During U.S.-Israeli Strikes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 March 2026. Iran announced 40 days of official mourning and a seven-day national holiday to commemorate the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
  23. ^ Habibiazad, Ghoncheh (1 March 2026). "Khamenei's daughter and grandchild killed in attacks, state media says". BBC News. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  24. ^ "Khamenei's relatives killed in the attacks too". BBC News. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  25. ^ Magdy, Sam (1 March 2026). "Khamenei family members killed in attacks, Fars news agency reports". Associated Press. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  26. ^ "Iran's supreme leader killed in major attack by US and Israel". AP News. 1 March 2026.
  27. ^ Banco, Erin (28 February 2026). "Exclusive: Prior to Iran, CIA assessed". Reuters. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  28. ^ "Cheers and celebrations heard in parts of Tehran after reports of Khamenei's death". The Business Standard. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Iranians in Mashhad mourn Khamenei". Al Jazeera. 1 March 2026.
  30. ^ "Photos: Iranians gather in Tehran to mourn Khamenei". Al Jazeera. 1 March 2026.
  31. ^ "Iranian supreme leader killed in airstrike, leaving power vacuum atop regime". POLITICO. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b "Javier Milei elogió la operación conjunta de Estados Unidos e Israel, los definió como aliados y condenó "las atrocidades" de Irán". Clarín (in Spanish). 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  33. ^ "Iraq's Muqtada al-Sadr mourns Khameni". Al Jazeera. 1 March 2026.
  34. ^ "Angry protesters, security forces face off as demonstration erupts near US embassy in Iraq". Al Jazeera. 1 March 2026.
  35. ^ ""Unforgiveable crime": Iranian Embassy in India condemns killing of Ayatollah Khamenei by Israeli-US strikes; expresses profound sorrow". ANI News. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
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