Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been confirmed dead following coordinated military strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces, according to a Sunday report from Iran's Fars News Agency. The unprecedented attack, described by Washington and Jerusalem as "major combat operations," occurred on Saturday and reportedly killed four of Khamenei's family members.
The Iranian government has declared 40 days of national mourning while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pledged "devastating retaliation." This escalation follows Israel's recent warning that all senior Iranian officials were considered legitimate targets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strikes were part of a coordinated effort to dismantle Iran's political leadership. Regional analysts warn the incident could trigger widespread instability across the Middle East, with oil prices already surging in Asian markets.
Global leaders have called for emergency UN Security Council meetings as tensions reach Cold War-era levels. The developments mark the most significant military confrontation between Western powers and Iran since the 2020 assassination of Qasem Soleimani.
