DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a significant assault on Iran launched by Israel and the US, President Donald Trump stated Saturday on social media.
Trump stated his dying is “the one best probability for the Iranian individuals to take again their Nation.” The dying occurred after a joint U.S. and Israeli aerial bombardment that focused Iranian navy and governmental websites.
The president additionally stated “heavy and pinpoint bombing” was to proceed “uninterrupted” by the week or longer.
There was no rapid remark from Iran. The assassination of the second chief of the Islamic Republic, who had no designated successor, would throw its future into doubt and lift the prospect of a protracted battle given Iranian threats of retaliation.
Trump in his submit known as Khamenei “one of the evil individuals in historical past.”
Trump stated that Khamenei “was unable to keep away from our Intelligence and Extremely Subtle Monitoring Methods and, working intently with Israel, there was not a factor he, or the opposite leaders which were killed together with him, may do.”
In a nationally televised tackle, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated there have been “rising indicators” that Khamenei had been killed when Israel struck his compound early Saturday.
Shortly after the tackle, two Israeli officers stated Israel had confirmed his dying. The officers each spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity pending a proper announcement and gave no additional particulars.
Khamenei succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the chief of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He had the ultimate say on all main insurance policies, main Iran’s clerical institution and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard – the 2 predominant facilities of energy within the nation’s theocracy.
Because the assault on Iran unfolded, Trump urged the Iranian public to “seize management of your future” by rising up towards the Islamic management. In a video saying the “main fight operations,” Trump informed Iranians that “after we are completed, take over your authorities. It will likely be yours to take. This shall be most likely your solely probability for generations.”
Iranian state media, citing the Crimson Crescent, on Saturday night stated not less than 201 individuals had been killed and greater than 700 injured. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones towards Israel and U.S. navy bases within the area, and exchanges of fireside continued into the evening.
A few of the primary strikes on Iran appeared to hit close to the workplaces of the 86-year-old Khamenei. Earlier than Israeli officers confirmed the dying, Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi informed NBC News that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian have been alive “so far as I do know.” He known as the assault “unprovoked, unlawful and completely illegitimate.”
The strikes through the holy fasting month of Ramadan opened a shocking new chapter in U.S. intervention in Iran, marking the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has attacked the Islamic Republic throughout talks over its nuclear program.
About 12 hours after the assaults started, the U.S. navy reported no U.S. casualties and minimal injury at U.S. bases regardless of “a whole bunch of Iranian missile and drone assaults.” It stated targets in Iran included Revolutionary Guard command amenities, air protection capabilities, missile and drone launch websites, and navy airfields.
Numerous members of Iran’s management have been focused within the assault. Israel stated it killed the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the nation’s protection minister. The Israeli navy additionally stated its strikes killed the secretary of the Iranian Safety Council, a detailed adviser to Khamenei.
Israel stated the strikes had focused three areas in Tehran the place intelligence had indicated that prime Iranian officers have been gathered. Neither Iran nor the U.S. commented on or confirmed Israel’s claims in regards to the Iranian management.
Even when Iran’s prime leaders are killed, regime change isn’t assured.
Democrats decried that Trump had taken motion with out congressional authorization. White Home spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated the administration had briefed a number of Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress prematurely.
The U.N. Safety Council stated it will meet Saturday afternoon. The U.N.’s nuclear watchdog stated on X it was intently monitoring developments and had seen “no proof of radiological influence.”
Iran was in a “near-total web blackout,” advocacy group NetBlocks stated.
Months of rising tensions
Tensions have soared in current weeks as American warships moved into the area. Trump stated he wished a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program, because the nation struggles with rising dissent following nationwide protests.
The set off for Saturday’s strikes seemed to be the unsuccessful newest spherical of nuclear talks on Thursday. In addition they mirrored dramatic modifications which have left Iran’s management in its weakest place because the Islamic Revolution practically half a century in the past.
Israeli and American strikes final June significantly weakened Iran’s air defenses, navy management and nuclear program. A regionwide battle sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel has left Iran’s community of proxies throughout the Center East significantly weakened. U.S. sanctions and international isolation have decimated Iran’s economic system.
Iran responded to the newest strikes by launching missiles and drones focusing on Israel and strikes focusing on U.S. navy installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Israel’s navy stated Iran fired “dozens” of missiles at Israel, with many intercepted. Emergency responder Magen David Adom famous 89 “frivolously injured” individuals.
Not less than three explosions have been heard Saturday night close to the Intelligence Ministry constructing in northern Tehran, witnesses stated, including that air protection techniques had begun working there. Israel’s navy stated it had begun new strikes towards missile launchers and aerial protection techniques in central Iran.
In southern Iran, not less than 85 individuals have been reported killed when a women’ college was struck, and dozens extra have been wounded, the native governor informed Iranian state TV.
Capt. Tim Hawkins, a U.S. Central Command spokesperson, stated he was “conscious of reviews” {that a} women’ college was struck and so they have been trying into them.
Iran’s state information company IRNA stated not less than 15 individuals have been killed within the southwest, quoting the governor of Lamerd, Ali Alizadeh, as saying a sports activities corridor, two residential areas and a corridor close to a college have been hit.
Flights throughout the Center East have been disrupted, and air protection hearth thudded over Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ industrial capital. Shrapnel from an Iranian missile assault on the UAE capital killed one particular person, state media stated.
Assault was coordinated between Israel and US
“Lively and critical negotiations have but once more been undermined,” Oman’s International Minister Badr al-Busaidi, a key mediator of the nuclear talks, stated on X. “Neither the pursuits of the US nor the reason for international peace are properly served by this.”
Israel stated the operation has been deliberate for months with the US. Air Pressure pilots have been putting “a whole bunch of targets throughout Iran,” Israeli navy chief of workers Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated in an announcement.
Targets within the Israeli marketing campaign included Iran’s navy, symbols of presidency and intelligence targets, based on an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate nonpublic info on the assault.
Trump, in looking for to justify the navy motion, claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program, regardless of asserting final yr this system had been “obliterated” by an earlier spherical of strikes.
He acknowledged Saturday that there might be American casualties, saying “that usually occurs in battle.” It was a notable assertion from a U.S. chief who swept into workplace on an “America First” platform and vowed to maintain out of “eternally wars.”
Trump additionally stated he was aiming to “annihilate” the Iranian navy and destroy regional proxies supported by Tehran. He known as on the paramilitary Iranian Revolutionary Guard to put down arms, saying members can be given immunity or face “sure dying” in the event that they didn’t.
Iran had stated it hoped to avert a battle, however maintained its proper to complement uranium. It didn’t need to focus on different points reminiscent of its long-range missile program or help for armed teams like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Iran has stated it hasn’t enriched since June, nevertheless it has blocked worldwide inspectors from visiting the websites the U.S. bombed. Satellite tv for pc pictures analyzed by The Related Press have proven new exercise at two of these websites, suggesting Iran is attempting to evaluate and probably recuperate materials.
Iran on Saturday requested an pressing session of the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company’s Board of Governors about “these threats to safeguarded nuclear amenities,” based on a letter posted by the semiofficial Tasnim information company.
Trump had threatened navy motion however held off following Iran’s current crackdown on protests spurred by financial grievances that developed right into a nationwide push towards the ruling clerics.
The Human Rights Activists News Company says it confirmed greater than 7,000 deaths within the crackdown and is investigating hundreds extra. The federal government has acknowledged greater than 3,000 killed.
Now, Iranians are more likely to be cautious about taking to the streets once more as a result of the Revolutionary Guard has demonstrated its ruthlessness, stated Kamran Matin, an skilled on Iran on the College of Sussex in southern England.
Regional results
The strikes may rattle international markets, significantly if Iran makes the Strait of Hormuz unsafe for industrial site visitors. A 3rd of worldwide oil exports transported by sea handed by the strait in 2025.
Saudi Arabia stated Iran had focused its capital and japanese area in an assault that was repelled. Bahrain stated a missile assault focused the U.S. Navy’s fifth Fleet headquarters within the island kingdom, and three buildings have been broken within the capital, Manama, and Muharraq metropolis by drone strikes and particles from an intercepted missile.
Kuwait’s civil aviation authority stated a drone focused the primary worldwide airport, injuring a number of workers. Kuwait’s state-run information company stated three troops have been injured by shrapnel from strikes that hit Ali Al-Salem air base. Explosions is also heard in Qatar. Jordan stated it “handled” 49 drones and ballistic missiles.
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Toropin and Madhani reported from Washington and Boak from West Palm Seaside, Florida. Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv contributed. Related Press writers all over the world contributed to this report.
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This story has been corrected to indicate that IRNA reported 40 individuals have been killed within the college strike, with out specifying college students.
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