Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed signs pointed to the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after joint United States and Israeli strikes hit Tehran on Saturday.
Strikes Hit Khamenei Compound
United States and Israeli forces launched major airstrikes across Iran early Saturday. They targeted key sites including the compound of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in central Tehran. Satellite images later showed heavy damage to the leadership house.
Israeli officials reported that fighter jets struck about 500 targets and eliminated several senior Revolutionary Guard commanders and nuclear program figures.
Netanyahu Announces Growing Signs
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, spoke in a video address hours after the operation began. He said the strikes destroyed the compound of the Iranian leader. “This morning we destroyed the compound of the tyrant Khamenei,” Benjamin Netanyahu stated.
He added that plans to attack Israel “are now gone, and there are more and more signs” that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei himself “is gone.” Benjamin Netanyahu noted “many signs” that the Iranian leader “is no longer” alive but stopped short of full confirmation.
Israeli Sources Report Death
Senior Israeli officials told media outlets that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in the strike on his Tehran residence. Some reports said Israeli intelligence showed proof of the death, including images, to Benjamin Netanyahu and security chiefs. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that the supreme leader remained alive “as far as I know.”
Netanyahu Urges Iranian People
Benjamin Netanyahu also called on Iranians to act. He urged citizens to “take to the streets en masse” and overthrow the regime. “You have a once-in-a-generation chance to unshackle yourselves from tyranny,” he declared. Meanwhile Iran fired missiles at targets in the region, but the United States reported no American casualties.
The operation continued into the evening with additional explosions reported in Iran. Over 200 people died across the country, Iranian officials said.
