Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been reportedly killed in Saturday airstrikes, Iran International can confirm.
At least four senior Iranian Intelligence Ministry officials were also killed in airstrikes on Saturday, Iran International has learned.
The United States and Israel accelerated the timeline for a planned strike after intelligence pointed to a “target of opportunity” tied to a specific meeting, multiple sources told Fox News.
Officials said the decision led to an unusual daytime operation aimed at maximizing surprise and targeting the gathering, rather than waiting for a more typical nighttime window.
President Donald Trump told NBC “we feel certain” that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead. “We feel that is a correct story.”
Fox News also quoted a US official as saying the United States believes Khamenei and five to 10 top Iranian leaders were killed in an initial Israeli strike.
Israeli military spokesman said on Saturday the following senior Iranian officials were among those targeted:
Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Defence Council, was described as a central figure in Iran’s security decision-making process and a close personal adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on security affairs.
Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps since June 2025, was identified as one of the key architects of what Israel described as Iran’s “plan to destroy Israel.”
According to the spokesman, he commanded Iran’s central military force, oversaw the deployment of strategic fire systems against the State of Israel, and directed and supported Iranian-backed militant organizations across multiple fronts. He was also said to have played a leading role in the violent suppression of Iranian protesters during last month’s domestic unrest.
Salah Asadi, head of intelligence for Iran’s emergency command and a senior intelligence officer within the General Staff, was described as involved in shaping Iran’s strategy toward Israel and the United States and as extensively active in the “plan to destroy Israel.”
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Mohammad Shirazi, who headed the military office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei since 1989, was said to have been responsible for coordinating between senior armed forces commanders and the Supreme Leader, serving as a key figure at the top of Iran’s power structure.
Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran’s defence minister and a former air force commander and deputy chief of staff of the armed forces, was described as responsible for long-range missile production facilities and weapons systems transferred to Iran’s proxy forces. The spokesman also said he oversaw the SPND organization, which advances projects in the fields of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
Hossein Jabal Amelian, head of SPND, was described as responsible for developing advanced technologies and weapons for the Iranian regime, including projects related to nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
Reza Mozaffari-Nia, former head of SPND, was said to have played a role in advancing efforts to develop nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned vessels not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian missile strikes continue to hit its Arab neighbours.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, was killed during Saturday’s attacks. Several IRGC commanders were also killed in the strikes, according to Reuters.
Iran launched missile attacks toward Israel and across Persian Gulf states, with Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar reporting interceptions; one person was killed in Abu Dhabi.
The Pentagon named its mission “Operation Epic Fury,” while Israel dubbed its campaign “Lion’s Roar” and called up thousands of reservists.
Trump said the US had begun “major combat operations,” Netanyahu urged Iranians to rise against clerical rule, and Iran’s leadership vowed a “crushing response” while warning strikes could continue.
Blasts were reported in Tehran, Tabriz, Qom, Karaj, Khorramabad, Kermanshah, Ilam and other cities. Iran’s Supreme Leader’s office in Tehran was targeted, and Iran closed its airspace for six hours.
Iran International
