Tehran, Iran – Web Desk: Iranian state media has reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was martyred in large-scale US and Israeli air and naval strikes, marking a dramatic escalation in Middle East tensions.
According to official Iranian outlets, Khamenei — who had led the Islamic Republic since 1989 following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini — was martyred along with several family members. Reports said his daughter and grandson were also among the dead. Iranian media further confirmed that his son-in-law and daughter-in-law were killed in the attacks.
Earlier, Israeli media outlets had claimed that Khamenei was inside an underground bunker with senior aides when approximately 30 bombs were dropped on his compound. Reports suggested that dozens of officials were martyred in the strike. Israeli sources also claimed that images of Khamenei’s body were shown to the US president, although this has not been independently verified.
British media, citing Israeli officials, also reported that Khamenei’s body had been recovered.
In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were indications that Iran’s supreme leader was no longer alive. He added that senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were also martyred and that thousands of additional targets could be struck in the coming days.
Netanyahu said Israel’s military campaign against Iran would continue “for as long as necessary.”
The strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of 201 Iranian civilians, with 747 others injured, according to a news agency report. Iranian state media also said that Defence Minister Brigadier General Amir Nasirzadeh and IRGC chief Major General Mohammad Pakpour were martyred in the attacks.
The developments represent one of the most serious escalations between Iran, Israel, and the United States in recent history, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict across the Middle East.
