Tehran/Washington, March 1 (ANI) — Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed in a sweeping joint military operation conducted by the United States and Israel, according to Iranian state media and regional sources. The unprecedented strike, described by U.S. officials as a decisive effort to dismantle Iran’s military and nuclear command structure, has triggered retaliatory attacks across the Middle East and plunged the region into its most volatile moment in decades.
Iranian state broadcaster Press TV confirmed the death early Sunday, declaring the “martyrdom” of the leader of the Islamic Revolution and announcing 40 days of national mourning. Flags were lowered to half-mast across the country as state-organized memorial gatherings began forming in major cities.
Operation “Epic Fury” and the Decapitation Strike
According to U.S. defense sources, the strikes were launched under the codename Operation Epic Fury, coordinated with Israel’s parallel campaign known as Operation Lion’s Roar. More than 900 aerial and missile strikes were reportedly carried out within 24 hours, targeting Iran’s senior leadership, strategic military facilities, and elements of its nuclear infrastructure.
The decisive strike reportedly occurred at approximately 9:00 a.m. Iran time on Saturday, when Khamenei had convened a high-level strategic meeting at the Leader’s Residence in Tehran. Intelligence assessments indicated that dozens of senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders were present.
U.S. and Israeli aircraft launched precision-guided munitions at the compound, killing Khamenei and an estimated 40 IRGC commanders. Iranian sources later confirmed that members of his immediate family — including his daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and the son widely considered a possible successor — were also killed in the blast.
Defense officials stated that Khamenei had been offered a last-minute evacuation opportunity — described as an “off-ramp” — but refused to leave.
Strategic Targets Across Tehran
Beyond the leadership compound, coordinated strikes hit several pillars of the Iranian state apparatus, including:
- The Iranian Atomic Energy Agency
- The Ministry of Intelligence
- The Iranian Parliament complex
- IRGC command centers
- Cyber infrastructure linked to state media and military communications
Senior U.S. officials stated the objective was not limited to eliminating the Supreme Leader but extended to crippling Iran’s nuclear program and paralyzing its centralized command-and-control structure.
President Donald Trump said intelligence had indicated Iran was preparing a possible pre-emptive strike against U.S. or Israeli assets. “We were not going to allow them to have the first punch,” he stated, describing the operation as “overwhelming force to neutralize the regime’s war machine.”
Retaliatory Strikes and Regional Escalation
Within hours of the attack, what remains of Iran’s military command launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. military assets across the region.
Casualty reports as of Sunday evening include:
- Israel: One civilian killed, 121 injured after a missile struck a residential area.
- Abu Dhabi: One person killed at Zion International Airport following missile impact.
- Dubai: A hotel caught fire after being struck by debris from an intercepted missile.
- Bahrain: No casualties reported.
- Saudi Arabia: Several missile impacts recorded, though damage assessments remain ongoing.
Iran also reportedly attempted to target a U.S. naval vessel in the Gulf, but the attack was intercepted and failed to cause damage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Iran’s retaliatory capabilities had been “severely degraded” and warned that any further aggression would be met with intensified force.
A Nation in Mourning — and Uncertainty
Iran’s constitution assigns the Assembly of Experts the responsibility of selecting a new Supreme Leader. However, with much of the senior clerical and IRGC leadership reportedly eliminated — including Khamenei’s presumed successor — the path forward is uncertain.
In Shia tradition, the 40th day after death, known as Arba’een, carries deep spiritual significance. Analysts suggest the extended mourning period may provide time for closed-door deliberations among surviving clerics and military figures as they attempt to stabilize the state.
Khamenei, who succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, ruled Iran for 37 years. His tenure was defined by strict clerical authority, expansion of the IRGC’s power, and persistent hostility toward Israel and the United States.
Calls for Regime Change
President Trump called on the Iranian people to “take back their country,” describing the moment as a historic opportunity. He stated that IRGC members who surrender and lay down arms would be granted immunity, while those who continue fighting would face “the same fate as the regime’s leadership.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed the call, urging Iranians to seize the opportunity for national transformation.
Meanwhile, 30 Iranian opposition groups reportedly met in London last week and formed the Iran Freedom Congress, pledging to establish a transitional governing coalition should the regime collapse.
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to unite for a “stable and democratic future,” warning that any attempt by remnants of the regime to impose a successor would lack legitimacy.
Divided International Reaction
International reactions have been sharply divided. Some U.S. lawmakers hailed the strike as a decisive blow against global terrorism. Critics warned it risks triggering a prolonged regional war and destabilizing global energy markets.
Security has been heightened across Tehran and other major cities amid fears of unrest. While state media has broadcast images of mass mourning, videos circulating online appear to show celebratory gatherings in some areas and among diaspora communities abroad.
The End of an Era
Khamenei’s death marks the end of the Islamic Republic’s most dominant political figure since 1989. Whether the elimination of Iran’s top leadership ushers in systemic reform, military consolidation, or prolonged instability remains uncertain.
The Middle East now stands at a pivotal crossroads, as governments, military planners, and millions of ordinary citizens await what may come next in the aftermath of one of the most consequential strikes in modern regional history.
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