The Middle East teetered on the brink of wider war on Saturday after United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed during an unprecedented joint US-Israeli military assault on Tehran.
Trump announced the development on social media, declaring Khamenei dead shortly after waves of coordinated airstrikes struck strategic targets across Iran in what officials described as one of the largest attacks ever carried out against the Islamic Republic.
Iran, however, stopped short of confirming the claim, with senior officials issuing conflicting statements and refusing to verify the supreme leader’s fate.
Region Erupts as Missiles Fly
Within hours of the strikes, Iran launched a sweeping retaliatory missile barrage, triggering explosions and air defence responses across Israel and several Gulf states.
Iran’s Red Crescent Society said at least 201 people were killed and more than 700 injured in the attacks, while authorities urged residents to evacuate parts of Tehran, a city of nearly 10 million people.
Iranian judicial authorities said a strike on a school in southern Tehran left over 100 people dead, though independent verification was not immediately possible.
Missile interceptions and blasts were reported across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait, while the United Arab Emirates confirmed civilian casualties and damage in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Netanyahu: ‘Signs He Is No Longer Alive’
In a nationally televised address, Netanyahu said Israeli forces destroyed Khamenei’s compound in Tehran’s Pasteur district during a “powerful surprise strike.”
“There are many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive,” he said, adding that Israel would continue targeting what he described as threats from Iran.
Israeli media reported that dozens of bombs were dropped on the compound, with thick smoke seen rising above the area.
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Khamenei was alive “as far as I know,” while foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said authorities were focused on defending national sovereignty and could not confirm the reports.
Iran Vows ‘Unforgettable Lesson’
Iranian leaders promised swift retaliation. Senior security official Ali Larijani warned that Iran would deliver an “unforgettable lesson” to its adversaries.
The Revolutionary Guards said Iranian missiles and drones struck US military facilities in Bahrain and Qatar as well as Israeli security installations.
Across Israel, streets emptied as residents rushed into shelters while air defence systems intercepted incoming missiles. Emergency services reported injuries but avoided major casualties.
Iran also signalled the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global oil shipping route — raising fears of economic shockwaves worldwide.
Washington, Tel Aviv Defend Operation
Trump said the operation aimed at “eliminating imminent threats” tied to Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes, vowing to dismantle its military capabilities.
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” he said, while urging Iranians to rise against their government.
Netanyahu described Iran as an “existential threat” and echoed calls for Iranians to “cast off the yoke of tyranny.”
Military officials said the operation represented the largest air assault in Israeli Air Force history and marked the most significant US military action targeting a foreign government since the Iraq War.
Airspaces Shut, World Calls for Calm
Airspaces across Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Israel and the UAE were partially closed as airlines cancelled flights throughout the region.
Explosions were reported in Gulf capitals as Iranian retaliatory strikes reached residential areas, prompting evacuations near the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.
Oman, which has mediated recent US-Iran negotiations, called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the United Nations Security Council to act to prevent further escalation.
With the fate of Iran’s supreme leader still unconfirmed and both sides promising further action, fears are mounting that the confrontation could spiral into a full-scale regional conflict.
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