Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israel airstrikes, Iranian state media confirmed earlier today. His death occurred after a joint US and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and government sites. A 40-day state mourning has been declared in Iran.
Iran’s chief of army staff and defense minister also killed in an airstrike targeting a meeting of the country’s defense council as reported by Iranian state television. General Abdol Rahim Mousavi and Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh were killed at the meeting alongside the head of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and security adviser Ali Shamkhani. The Iranian state media announced the deaths of military leaders today. Iranian state media reported at least 201 dead and more than 700 injured. Reports suggest that around 40 Iranian officials were also killed in the strikes.
In response, Iran launched attacks across West Asia. Apparent Iranian strikes have been reported in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait, places with US military bases or that are allied to the US. US President Donald Trump, in a social media post, said Khamenei’s death is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country. The US President added that heavy and pinpoint bombing will continue through the week or longer. Tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region amid stalled nuclear talks.
