Iran’s government confirmed on Sunday that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in massive US-Israeli airstrikes, marking a seismic escalation in West Asia tensions. The announcement triggered 40 days of national mourning, as officials described the attacks as the most extensive on Iranian soil in decades.
State media reported Khamenei died Saturday amid coordinated bombings on leadership compounds and military sites. A senior Israeli official noted his body was recovered from rubble, while US President Donald Trump affirmed close collaboration with Israel to neutralize the leader, who shaped Iran’s policies since 1989.
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Witnesses described divided responses: celebrations erupted in Tehran, Karaj, and Isfahan streets, with crowds cheering Khamenei’s end after decades of hardline rule.
The killing heightens fears of broader retaliation, following Iran’s recent missile barrages on US bases in Kuwait and Qatar.
Iran’s power vacuum could spark internal strife or rapid succession. As mourning begins, the world braces for reprisals that could engulf the Middle East.
