Netanyahu: Khamenei may have been killed in strike

The claim follows joint U.S.–Israel attacks on Tehran targeting Iranian military infrastructure

Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are indications that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, may have been killed following U.S.–Israel airstrikes targeting his compound in Tehran.

Netanyahu made the claim in a televised statement on Saturday, describing the attack as a “powerful surprise strike” that destroyed Khamenei’s compound in the Iranian capital.

“There are many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive,” Netanyahu said, though he did not provide independent confirmation or evidence of Khamenei’s death.

Strike part of wider U.S.–Israel military operation

The statement follows a wave of coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on multiple targets across Iranian cities, including Tehran, which triggered explosions and heavy smoke.

Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces had begun “major combat operations” in Iran, saying the objective was to eliminate imminent threats posed by Iran’s military capabilities.

“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” Trump said in a video message.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the operation as a preventive strike aimed at weakening Iran’s strategic and military infrastructure.

Israeli strike on Iran school kills 40 as tensions escalate

Iran has not officially confirmed Khamenei’s death, and the full impact of the strikes remains unclear as tensions in the region continue to escalate.