In a dramatic escalation of Middle East hostilities, Israeli officials say Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in a massive, coordinated military strike carried out jointly by the United States and Israel early Saturday, in what has been described as Operation “Epic Fury.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “growing signs” that the 86-year-old leader was killed when his compound in Tehran was hit, though Tehran has not confirmed the reports.

The Associated Press reported that Israeli officials confirmed to them that Khamenei was killed, but that both the United States and Iranian governments have remained unusually silent on the leader’s status as of Sunday evening.

In a nationally televised address, Netanyahu described the assault as a decisive blow against Iran’s ruling infrastructure, claiming that senior Iranian commanders and officers were among the casualties.

Trump Backs Claims, Urges Iranian People to Rise Up

In remarks to U.S. media, President Donald Trump endorsed the Israeli account, saying Washington “feels that is a correct story” regarding Khamenei’s death and adding that “most of the people that make the decisions in Iran are gone.” Trump went further by calling on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” and to ultimately overthrow the Islamic Republic’s clerical leadership — a historic and unprecedented exhortation from a U.S. head of state.

Iran Denies Reports, Retaliates with Missile Strikes

Iran’s Foreign Ministry, while not directly commenting on the fate of the supreme leader, declared the joint strikes unprovoked and illegal, and Iranian state media cited by Reuters reported domestic casualties in the hundreds — with at least 201 killed and over 700 wounded, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.

Iran launched a wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli territory and numerous U.S. military bases across the Middle East. Exchanges of fire continued into the night, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration.

Global and Regional Reaction

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session amid widespread international alarm over the possibility of a full-scale Middle East war. Several nations, including members of the European Union and China, urged restraint. Russia condemned the U.S.-Israeli offensive as a violation of international law.

Oil markets reacted sharply, with prices surging on fears that the conflict could disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies.

Uncertainty Around Succession and Future of Iranian State

If confirmed, Khamenei’s death poses a constitutional and political crisis for the Islamic Republic. The supreme leader, Iran’s highest authority in both state and military affairs since 1989, had no formally designated successor in place, and leadership councils may now face a protracted and contentious process to fill the power vacuum.

What We Know — and What Remains Unverified

• Israeli and some U.S. officials claim Khamenei is dead.
• Iranian authorities deny the report and insist senior leaders are alive.
• Casualty figures inside Iran are rising, with civilian and military losses mounting.
• Regional retaliation and international responses continue to unfold in real time.

This is a developing story. ABC Mundial will provide updates as further authoritative confirmations and official statements emerge.