Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed during a large-scale joint military operation conducted by the United States and Israel. The 86-year-old cleric, who held ultimate power over Iran's government and military since 1989, died when missiles struck his compound and offices in the capital, Tehran. Former US President Donald Trump announced the death in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.
The operation, codenamed "Epic Fury," involved a combination of land, air, and sea assets, including Tomahawk missiles and drones, targeting high-value locations across Iran. President Trump stated the action was taken to eliminate imminent threats to American and Israeli citizens, calling it a "single greatest chance" for the Iranian people to reclaim their country.
Decades of Tension Culminate in Strike
Khamenei's death marks a pivotal moment in a long history of high tensions between Iran and the West, centred on the country's support for terrorism and its pursuit of nuclear weapons. In a video statement announcing the start of "major combat operations," Trump directly addressed Iranian citizens, urging them to "take over your government" and stating this was "probably your only chance for generations."
Israeli officials had repeatedly issued threats against the Supreme Leader. Following previous joint strikes in June 2025, Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said Khamenei "cannot continue to exist," labelling him a dictator. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made similar statements.
Operation 'Epic Fury' and Immediate Aftermath
The American military had been building up its forces in the Middle East in recent weeks, amid failed negotiations for a new nuclear deal and heated rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran. The precise location of Khamenei during the strikes was previously unknown.
In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting US bases across the region. US assets and partner forces, including those from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, were involved in air defence operations against these attacks.
Uncertain Future for the Iranian Regime
Khamenei's reign was recently marked by a brutal crackdown on domestic protests over high inflation. His death creates a major power vacuum at the top of a regime bolstered by the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a vast internal security apparatus.
It remains to be seen how the regime will manage this upheaval amid ongoing US combat operations. The future stability of Iran and the broader region now hangs in the balance following the removal of its central figure of authority for nearly 40 years.