Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei reportedly killed in strikes

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was k!lled in an Israeli strike Saturday, February 28, as part of a massive joint military operation between the U.S. and Israel, Israel’s ambassador to Washington told U.S. officials.

US and Israeli forces attacked Iran in what the two countries described as a ‘pre-emptive’ strike against a Tehran government intent on developing nuclear weapons. The attack also prompted retaliation from Iran, with missiles reported to have targeted Israel and countries across the Middle East.

According to CNN, an Israeli official confirmed to Axios that Khamenei is dead and his body was recovered from his destroyed compound, according to Israeli intelligence.

Some of the first strikes on Iran appeared to hit areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was in his offices when the attack occurred, and his de@th was not confirmed until several hours after the attack.

Khamenei has ruled since 1989 and held ultimate power as he continued to shape Iran’s Islamic Republic after the revolution in 1979.