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Israel Says Iran’s Supreme Leader Is Dead

February 28, 2026 · 3:10 pm ET · Leave a Comment

Israel’s ambassador to Washington told U.S. officials that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “was killed in an Israeli strike Saturday as part of a massive joint military operation between the U.S. and Israel,” Axios reports.

“Khamenei’s killing sets off an immediate succession crisis with no clear answer.”

New York Times: “The first strikes in Israel’s attack on Iran, which began on Saturday alongside the United States, had a central goal: Assassinate the regime’s top leaders.”

Wall Street Journal: “Israel dropped 30 bombs on Khamenei’s compound.”

CNN: “One of the sources said Israel had obtained a photo of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s dead body. The second source said an official announcement is being prepared.”

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Taegan Goddard

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Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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