Israel confirms the death of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei and top commanders following heavy joint airstrikes with the US on Saturday.
Israel Claims Decisive Blow to Iranian Command
The Israel Defense Forces has officially declared the elimination of Iran‘s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the entire senior military leadership of the region’s opposing forces. On Sunday evening, the military released a statement via the social media platform X, asserting that the command structure of what they termed the axis of evil had been completely neutralized. This announcement follows a large-scale joint aerial operation conducted by Israeli and United States forces in the early hours of Saturday, which marks a significant escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Top Military Figures Targeted
According to the details shared by officials, the operation successfully targeted a comprehensive list of high-ranking figures. The image circulated by the military placed Ali Khamenei at the pinnacle of the list. Alongside the Supreme Leader, the strike reportedly killed Abdol-Rahim Musavi, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and his predecessor, Mohammad Bagheri. The leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was also heavily impacted, with the reported deaths of Commander-in-Chief Huseyin Salami and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who led the Aerospace Force.
The list of casualties extended to specific strategic units, including Gholam Ali Rashid, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, and Huseyin Mahdavi, who commanded the Quds Force corps in Syria and Lebanon. This strike appears to have been designed to dismantle the operational coordination between Tehran and its regional affiliates.
Regional Proxies and Civilian Casualties
The offensive also targeted key leaders within allied organizations. Israel stated that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, along with military wing commanders Mohammad Sinwar and Mohammad Deif, were killed. The leadership of Hezbollah also suffered major losses, including Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, senior commander Fuad Shukr, Ali Karaki, and Ibrahim Aqil. Furthermore, Mohammad Al-Ghamari, the Chief of Staff for the Houthi armed forces, was named among the deceased.
The Iranian Red Crescent reported that the bombardment resulted in more than 200 fatalities. Sources indicated that the residence of Ali Khamenei was a primary target. Tragic reports also emerged stating that over 100 female students were killed when a school was struck during the offensive.
Conflict Spreads Across Borders
The impact of the strikes resonated throughout the region, with explosions reported in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Following the joint attack by Israel and the US, the administration in Tehran initiated retaliatory measures. Officials confirmed that Iran launched ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles targeting cities within Israel. Concurrently, security reports indicate that US military assets stationed in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Iraq have come under fire from Iranian sources, signaling a transition from heightened tension to open regional warfare.