President Donald Trump Orders U.S. Strikes That Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

A coordinated U.S.–Israeli air campaign struck targets across western and central Iran and resulted in claims that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.

“Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press show new activity at two sites that had previously been bombed”

ABC7 Chicago

The development was first announced by President Trump and later reported by Iranian state outlets.

ABC7 Chicago

Both U.S. and Israeli officials framed the operation as a decisive attack on Iran’s military and leadership.

CBS News reported “A U.S.- and Israel-led air campaign reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.”

NPR noted “the violence followed a joint U.S.–Israeli operation (the Pentagon called it 'Epic Fury,' Israel 'Roaring Lion').”

The Intercept summarized that “U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Saturday killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.”

CNN similarly reported “joint U.S.-Israeli strikes have killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — a development first announced by Donald Trump and later confirmed by Iranian authorities.”

Iranian state media and officials reported significant leadership and civilian casualties, announced a 40‑day mourning period, and said an interim leadership council would assume the supreme leader’s duties.

Independent verification of many high‑profile death tolls and identities remains limited and contested.

Al Jazeera

CBS News said "Iran reported additional high-level military fatalities after an airstrike on a defense council meeting, naming figures including Gen. Abdol Rahim Mousavi (chief of army staff) and Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh (defense minister) among the dead" and described "an interim leadership council—led by the president, the parliament speaker and the judiciary head—was announced to assume the supreme leader’s duties."

GBH reported "Iran announced a three-person interim leadership council and said Khamenei, several family members and senior commanders were among the dead."

NPR noted "Iran’s state media reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in what it described as the joint U.S.–Israeli operation and announced 40 days of mourning."

Several outlets cautioned that many claims remain unconfirmed.

The accounts from CBS News, GBH and NPR contradict each other on which senior figures were reported killed, including whether Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among the dead.

Iran launched large missile-and-drone reprisals across the region.

“Iran’s state media and the AP reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed early Sunday in an airstrike on his Tehran compound that Iranian outlets and satellite images from Airbus say was carried out by the United States and Israel”

AP News

Tehran and Gulf states reported strikes, interceptions and damage to civilian infrastructure and airports, and nations from Israel to Gulf capitals sounded air-raid sirens and reported impacts.

CBS News reported sirens sounded in Israel and that Gulf cities including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and Manama reported explosions or strikes.

CBS quoted the UAE as saying Iran fired 137 missiles and 209 drones at its territory.

NPR reported that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait reported strikes.

NPR said Jordan reported it shot down 49 incoming drones and ballistic missiles.

GBH said Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks across the Gulf, Iraq and Jordan aimed at U.S. and Israeli targets.

GBH reported Tehran claimed it had hit 27 U.S. bases plus Israeli sites.

CNN noted Iran launched widespread retaliatory strikes across the region, targeting countries that host U.S. bases, including Bahrain and the UAE.

The outlets reported differing figures and claims across their accounts—for example, CBS quoted the UAE on 137 missiles and 209 drones, NPR said Jordan shot down 49, and GBH said Tehran claimed it hit 27 U.S. bases plus Israeli sites.

President Trump framed the strikes as necessary to eliminate imminent threats and vowed continued bombardment while urging Iranian forces to disarm or surrender.

His rhetoric and the operation’s scope prompted sharp domestic and international criticism, including accusations of authoritarian overreach and warnings about escalation.

CBS News

CBS News reported that President Trump vowed 'heavy and pinpoint bombing' would continue as needed, warned of unprecedented force if Iran retaliates, urged Iran’s military to disarm, and called on civilians to rise up.

World Tribune said President Trump announced and launched 'Operation Epic Fury' and reported that Trump posted on Truth Social calling Khamenei 'one of the most evil people in History'.

CNN wrote that Trump vowed the bombing would continue 'uninterrupted throughout the week'.

The Intercept’s analysis explicitly charged that the broader context included domestic authoritarian moves and said the piece 'shifts into polemic, accusing Donald Trump of carrying out a full-on authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government'.

The strikes and reprisals produced wide diplomatic fallout and heightened fears of a broader regional war, prompting emergency meetings, condemnations from major powers, protests, tightened security around embassies, and warnings that the conflict could spur long-term instability and proliferation pressures.

“Analysts say killing Iran’s supreme leader would not automatically bring regime change — removing him is only the first step, and a new leadership would be required — and could provoke punitive military backlash that some warn would plunge Iran “back to the Medieval Age”

CNBC

Al Jazeera reported that Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers and EU foreign ministers held emergency talks after a late U.N. Security Council meeting and described reactions as sharply divided.

CNBC

CBS News said Russia requested a special IAEA board meeting to discuss the attacks and noted that Iranian dissidents welcomed Khamenei’s death as an opening for transition to secular democracy even as Iranian officials vowed determined retaliation.

NPR quoted the U.N. chief, saying U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned both the U.S.-Israeli strikes and Iran’s retaliation, warned the actions risk uncontrollable escalation, and urged dialogue.

The Long War Journal cautioned that the situation remained fluid and heavily dependent on preliminary reports.