Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei Killed
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed in a major joint attack carried out by Israel and the United States, according to Iranian state television.
The 86-year-old leader died in an airstrike that targeted his residence and office in central Tehran, with satellite images showing extensive destruction from multiple bombs. Several senior officials were also killed, including the head of the Revolutionary Guards, top security advisor Ali Shamkhani, and some of Khamenei's relatives such as his daughter, in-laws, and grandson. US President Donald Trump announced the death earlier, calling Khamenei "one of the most evil people in history" and warning of continued severe strikes to eliminate Iran's nuclear capabilities.
The killing has plunged Iran into uncertainty, prompting the quick formation of a transitional council led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with the judiciary chief and another senior figure, to govern until the Assembly of Experts selects a new supreme leader. Iran has declared 40 days of national mourning, with mixed reactions: some people in Tehran cheered the news from their windows via exiled media, while others raised black mourning flags at holy sites like Imam Reza's tomb in Mashhad. Iranian officials condemned the attack as a major crime and vowed strong retaliation, with the Revolutionary Guards threatening their harshest operation yet against US and Israeli targets.
The conflict continues to escalate, with Iran launching retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Israel, US bases in the Gulf (including in Bahrain), and nearby areas like Dubai and Doha, causing explosions, airport disruptions, and air raid sirens across the region. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the airstrikes as violations of the UN Charter and urged all sides to return to talks, especially on Iran's nuclear program. Civilian casualties have been reported, including over 100 girls killed in a school strike south of Iran, heightening fears of wider regional instability.
