Iranian state media have confirmed the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following large-scale airstrikes reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel, marking a dramatic escalation in regional tensions.
State broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) announced Sunday morning that the Supreme Leader had “reached martyrdom.” The state-affiliated Mehr News Agency described him as a “great scholar and mujahid” who “sacrificed his life to lift Iran.”
The coordinated strikes reportedly targeted multiple locations across the country as part of a broader campaign. US President Donald Trump was said to have signalled that the operation aimed at regime change and could continue throughout the week.
Among the areas hit was a location near a military base where Iranian sources claim more than 100 girls at an elementary school were killed. The scale of the attacks represents one of the most significant confrontations between the long-time adversaries in recent history.
In response, authorities in Tehran announced what they described as unprecedented retaliation. Iranian forces reportedly launched strikes targeting US military installations, Israeli positions and other strategic sites across the region. A senior Iranian official vowed that America would be “stabbed in the heart,” signalling the possibility of sustained hostilities.
The unfolding conflict has already disrupted oil shipments, damaged major aviation hubs and rattled densely populated cities. Regional security analysts warn that continued escalation could destabilise global energy markets and deepen geopolitical divisions.
Reactions to Khamenei’s death have been sharply divided. Within Iran, scenes of mourning have emerged alongside reports of celebration, highlighting internal political fractures. In the United States, protests have broken out, with some demonstrators supporting the strikes and others condemning the military action and its humanitarian consequences.
The situation remains fluid as both sides signal further operations, raising fears of a prolonged and wider regional confrontation.
Source: CNN
