The US and Israel launched a huge strike on Khamenei's residence in Tehran.
20:33, Sat, Feb 28, 2026 Updated: 20:33, Sat, Feb 28, 2026
Khamenei (Image: Getty)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in huge Israeli-US airstrikes, it has been claimed. Iranian state media earlier denied reports that the dictator is dead, adding that Khamenei is safe and sound.
However, reports — not independently confiremd by the Express — suggest otherwise. An Israeli source told Reuters that Khamenei is not only dead, but his body "has been found." Meanwhile, Channel 12 in Israel, citing a source, claimed Iran's supreme leader is "almost certainly dead".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also hinted Khamenei could have been killed, saying: "The plan to destroy Israel no longer exists, and there is a high likelihood that the tyrant Khamenei does not either."
The US and Israel launched strikes across Iran, with Donald Trump calling on the people of Iran to overthrow the government.
Donald Trump has said the US has a number of "off ramps" as he claimed he could end the conflict with Iran in a matter of days.
In a five-munite call with Axios from Mar-a-Lago, he said: "I can go long and take over the whole thing, or end it in two or three days and tell the Iranians: ‘See you again in a few years if you start rebuilding [your nuclear and missile programmes]. In any case, it will take them several years to recover from this attack."
He said the Iranians "got close and then pulled back" during talks that were held in Geneva last week, adding: “I understood from that that they don’t really want a deal."
Aerial footage shows US munitions striking Iran targets
Aerial footage posted to social media by US Central Command showed American munitions striking what appeared to be a variety of targets from drones to buildings in Iran.
The video montage show black-and-white footage of what appears to be a drone on a runway, a radar tower, a missile battery and a compound of buildings all being struck by what seemed to be bombs or missiles and followed by large explosions.
The footage features the words “unclassified” at the top of the screen and a targeting reticle in the middle.
CENTCOM didn’t provide more details about the video, but said that it was “delivering an overwhelming and unrelenting blow” in a caption that accompanied the post.
As the President stated, our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.
The President ordered bold action. CENTCOM forces are delivering an overwhelming and unrelenting blow. pic.twitter.com/B0k5gV4YnU
People are cheering and celebrating in different areas of the Iranian capital Tehran amid reports Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, it has been claimed.
Sources, speaking to BBC Persian, say people are honking horns and screaming in celebration, the BBC reports.
According to Iranian state media, the head of public relations at the Supreme Leader's office has said: "The enemy is resorting to mental warfare, all should be aware."
Amid growing reports Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, let's remind ourselves of what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.
He earlier said there were "growing signs" the Supreme Leader is "no longer alive".
These latest reports are uncofirmed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi previously told NBC News that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive “as far as I know".
Pictures show Israeli strike on Khamenei's residence
Khamenei's residence in Tehran was destroyed in a strike earlier today.
The property was reportedly targeted with 30 bunker buster bombs
Israel \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1 dropped 30 bunker busters bombs on the safe house of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Satellite Images show massive damages. Israel \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1 Prime Minister @netanyahu is convinced that Supreme Leader is no more. #Iranpic.twitter.com/Fys0cAQmG4
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