Fate of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, uncertain. Israeli sources say there are growing indications that he may have been killed
According to Israel's Channel 12, Israel's preliminary assessment is that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was “most likely” killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier in the day.
According to Israel's Channel 12, Israel's preliminary assessment is that Ali Khamenei was “most likely” killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier in the day. The TV station cites unidentified Israeli sources and talks of “increasing indications” of this. But there is no official confirmation from Israel, the United States or Iran.
Earlier, the same source reported that the Israeli assessment indicated that the supreme leader was “at least wounded”. According to Channel 12, the conclusions are based not only on satellite images showing Khamenei's presidential compound destroyed, but on information from confidential sources.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that there was “no contact” with Khamenei, and Israeli officials told the Walla publication that the Iranian leader had been isolated and there was no certainty about his fate. At the same time, Iranian authorities announced that they were going to release an audio or video recording of Khamenei, suggesting that he might give a speech.
Massive attacks on Tehran and other strategic targets
According to Israeli and Iranian sources, several high-ranking commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and political officials of the regime have been killed.
Iran's Security Council has asked residents of Tehran and other major cities to stay in shelters until further notice. Witnesses reported that security forces blocked roads in the area of the capital where the offices of Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament are located.
An Iranian official previously told Reuters that the supreme leader was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a “safe location”.
Iranian media also reported attacks on IRGC intelligence headquarters, as well as explosions in the center of the capital. Iran closed its airspace in response to the bombings. A US official confirmed to Reuters that the US strikes were “ongoing” and were being carried out both from the air and from the sea.
Netanyahu: “The goal is to remove the regime of the ayatollahs”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the objective of the operation, called “Roaring Lion”, is to remove the ayatollahs' regime from power.
“The operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands,” Netanyahu said, urging Iran's various ethnic groups — Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Baluchis and Ahwazis — to “remove the yoke of tyranny.”
The Israeli leader accused the Iranian regime of promoting slogans such as “Death to Israel” and “Death to America”, killing Israeli and American citizens and violently repressing its own population for 47 years. Netanyahu thanked US President Donald Trump for his “historic friendship” and stressed that Iran must not get nuclear weapons.
For his part, Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi issued a similar message, calling on the military and police to support the removal of the Islamic regime.
Coordinated military operation
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Operation Roaring Lion aims to “deeply degrade the Iranian terrorist regime” and eliminate existential threats to the State of Israel. According to the army, dozens of military targets were hit in western Iran in a coordinated action with the US military.
The IDF claims that despite previous strikes in the previous operation, dubbed “Rising Lion”, Iran has continued to develop and conceal its nuclear program, as well as rebuild its missile production infrastructure. The Israeli military also accuses Tehran of funding and arming proxy groups on Israel's borders.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, along with other commanders, are conducting operational assessments and the Israeli Air Force continues strikes on Iranian territory.
