Iranian media also reported that the daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter of the Iranian leader had been killed in US and Israeli strikes
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed on Saturday, state media confirmed, after the United States and Israel launched the biggest attack on Iranian targets in decades.
A senior Israeli official told Reuters earlier that the Iranian leader’s body had been found after a strike, and US President Donald Trump said the United States worked closely with Israel to target the man who led Iran since 1989.
Iran has called the strikes unprovoked and illegal and responded with missiles fired at Israel and at least seven other countries, including Gulf states that host US bases.
Mr Trump, making the biggest foreign-policy gamble of his presidency after campaigning for reelection as a “peace president,” said the strikes were aimed at ending a decades-long war with Iran and ensuring it could not develop a nuclear weapon.
Intelligence and tracking systems monitored Mr Khamenei’s whereabouts, Mr Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding that “there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.”
A wide view of smoke rising over the city of Tehran
The strikes follow repeated US-Israeli warnings that they would strike Iran again if it pressed ahead with its nuclear and ballistic missile programs
Mr Trump reiterated calls for Iranians to topple the government but warned:
“The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Mr Khamenei’s compound had been destroyed.
Three sources familiar with the matter said Iranian Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour were among those killed in the attacks.
Israel’s military said it had confirmed that five other senior military commanders were also dead, including Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader. Iranian media said Mr Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law were also killed.
Celebrations, fear among Iranians
Witnesses said some Iranians took to the streets in Tehran, the nearby city of Karaj, and the central city of Isfahan to celebrate after reports of Mr Khamenei’s death.
Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones in response to the attacks, but the Pentagon said there were no US deaths or injuries.
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