Israeli Official Claims Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Killed in Israeli-US Attack
Israel has claimed to have killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a military strike launched by Israel and the United States. The claim was made by a senior Israeli official to Reuters on Saturday, 28 February 2026. Thus far, there has been no official confirmation from Iran regarding the fate of the 86-year-old leader.
The United States and Israel launched a coordinated attack on the same day, reportedly targeting Iran’s highest leadership ranks. US President Donald Trump stated that the operation aimed to eliminate security threats to the United States and provide an opportunity for the Iranian people to overthrow their rulers. The strike has escalated regional tensions and pushed the Middle East closer to full-scale conflict.
Khamenei has led Iran since 1989, succeeding the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who died in the same year. In Iran’s political structure, the position of Supreme Leader holds the highest authority over political, military, and religious institutions, and directs both domestic and foreign policy.
Under his leadership, Iran became a prominent anti-American force in the Middle East. Tehran expanded its military influence across the region, partly through support for allied groups including Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has viewed this policy as undermining its regional ambitions.
Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated dramatically during a 12-day air war in June 2025. During that period, Israel launched surprise attacks on Iranian underground nuclear facilities, killing senior commanders and nuclear scientists, and crippling much of the country’s military leadership structure. Israel’s Defence Minister at the time, Israel Katz, publicly threatened to kill Khamenei and declared that Iran’s Supreme Leader “cannot continue to exist”.
Throughout his tenure, Khamenei maintained his predecessor’s conservative line and suppressed repeated waves of domestic protests. His government also restricted the room for manoeuvre of reformists seeking more open relations with the West.
Khamenei initially supported the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated by world powers with Iran’s then-President Hassan Rouhani. The agreement eased some of Iran’s international isolation before it was abandoned by President Trump in 2018, who reimposed sanctions on Tehran.
Since Israel’s assault on Gaza in October 2023, Iran’s regional position has deteriorated further. Hamas and Hezbollah have faced intense pressure from Israel, whilst Iran’s long-time ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was overthrown in December 2024.
The position of Supreme Leader was established following the 1979 revolution and is enshrined in Iran’s constitution. The leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts, a council of 88 religious scholars with the authority to appoint and oversee the nation’s highest authority.