The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been officially confirmed by Iranian state media following a massive joint military operation by the United States and Israel. The decapitation strike, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” by U.S. officials and “Operation Roaring Lion” by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), took place on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
According to reports from the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) and Fars News, the 86-year-old leader was killed when multiple missiles struck his high-security compound in central Tehran during a meeting with his senior military and security advisers. “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead,” U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social, describing the operation as a historic opportunity for the Iranian people to reclaim their country.
The strike resulted in a significant loss for the Iranian leadership, with several high-ranking officials confirmed dead alongside the Supreme Leader. The IDF released a detailed list of those eliminated, which includes the Iranian Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi; the Minister of Defence, Aziz Nasirzadeh; and the Chief of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), General Mohammad Pakpour.
Also among the casualties were Ali Shamkhani, a top security adviser, and Mohammad Shirazi, the head of Khamenei’s military bureau. “The majority of the highest-ranking senior military officials of the Iranian security leadership have been eliminated,” the IDF stated, noting that the operation involved over 200 fighter jets hitting more than 500 strategic targets across the country.
Tragically, the Iranian media also confirmed that several members of Khamenei’s immediate family were killed in the bombardment of the compound. Reports state that his daughter, son-in-law, a grandchild, and a daughter-in-law were among those who perished when 30 bombs were dropped on the leadership site in a rare daylight attack.
In response to the assassination, the Iranian government has declared 40 days of national mourning and seven days of public holidays. While a temporary leadership council consisting of President Masoud Pezeshkian and the head of the judiciary has assumed control, the IRGC has vowed to launch the most ferocious retaliatory operation in history, with reports already surfacing of missile strikes targeting U.S. bases in the Gulf and facilities in Israel.
