Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Killed -- Iranian State Media

In one of the most consequential events in modern Middle Eastern history, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been confirmed killed, according to Iranian state media. The report follows a massive and coordinated military campaign by the United States and uk news24x7 Israel, which struck key leadership compounds and military infrastructure in Iran in the early hours of February 28, 2026.
Who Was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was the highest authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran for more than three decades, serving as Supreme Leader since 1989.

He succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and wielded immense political, religious, and military control.
Khamenei’s leadership was defined by:
A strict theocratic governance model
Expansion of Iran’s regional influence through proxy groups
Confrontations with Western powers over Iran’s nuclear program
Internal suppression of dissent and protest movements
Aged 86 at the time of his death, Khamenei was regarded as one of Iran's most powerful — and controversial — rulers in modern history.
Breaking: Iranian State Media Confirms Khamenei’s Death State Media Announcement In the early hours of Sunday, March 1, 2026, Iranian state media outlets including IRIB and associated channels announced that Ayatollah Khamenei had been killed during the massive military strike reportedly conducted by U.S.

and Israeli forces. The announcement described him as having "reached martyrdom" and indicated that the leadership compound in Tehran was destroyed in the attack.
Officials declared a national period of mourning, stating that "40 days" of public grief and memorial observances would be observed across Iran.
Reports on Family Casualties According to initial state media reporting, several of Khamenei’s close family members, including his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, were also believed to have been killed in the same attack.
The Military Operation: U.S.

and Israeli Involvement Joint Strikes on Tehran and Strategic Targets The reported killing of the Supreme Leader came as part of an unprecedented military operation launched late on February 28, 2026. Publicly referred to in some statements by U.S. and Israeli figures as "Operation Epic Fury," the strikes targeted:
Khamenei’s compound in central Tehran
Key Iranian military intelligence hubs
Command and control facilities tied to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programs
Satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts captured smoke plumes across Tehran, especially near fortified sections of the city consistent with elite leadership complexes.
Statements From U.S.

and Israeli Leaders Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Khamenei’s death via his social media platform, posting that the Supreme Leader was "one of the most evil people in history" and declaring the successful elimination of an imminent strategic threat.
Israel’s Prime Minister also confirmed that the offensive had struck critical Iranian leadership facilities, with initial assessments suggesting the Supreme Leader was indeed among those killed.