U.S. and Israel Strike Iran, Seriously Injure New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei

U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that began on Feb. 28 targeted the Khamenei household and left Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, wounded.

“EnglishInternational Reports say Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei suffers injuries in strikes Reports cite U”

Chosunbiz

Multiple outlets reported that Mojtaba was injured on the first day of the campaign: “Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded during U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.”

Chosunbiz

CNN described the injuries as occurring “on the first day of the US and Israel’s bombardment campaign,” and Chosunbiz summarised coverage saying “Reports say Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei suffers injuries in strikes.”

The New York Post likewise reported the strikes as the “initial wave of airstrikes by the US and Israel.”

Reports from multiple outlets describe the nature of Mojtaba Khamenei’s wounds as relatively limited but painful: several sources say he fractured a foot, received bruising near his left eye, and suffered minor facial lacerations.

CNN reported he “suffered a fractured foot and other minor injuries,” and The New Voice of Ukraine noted that “According to aCNNsource, Khamenei suffered a fractured foot, as well as a bruise near his left eye and minor cuts to his face.”

CNN

Chosunbiz and the New York Post both repeated the fractured-leg and facial-injury details, while Firstpost cited Reuters reporting that Mojtaba was “lightly injured” but continuing to operate.

The full extent of his condition remains unclear in public reporting.

Several reports say the same strike that wounded Mojtaba also killed senior family members, with Iranian and international outlets naming multiple fatalities among the Khamenei household.

“Mojtaba Khamenei’s secretive rise as Iran’s new ayatollah and absence from public has fuelled speculation over his injuries, whereabouts and whether he really controls the IRGC”

Euronews

The New Voice of Ukraine quoted Iran’s ambassador to Cyprus saying Khamenei “was injured during the same airstrike that killed his father — former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — along with five other family members.”

CNN likewise reported the ambassador’s account that the strike “killed his father, the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with five other members of the family.”

Chosunbiz summarised those accounts, saying “In that strike, six members of the family, including Khamenei, Mojtaba's father, as well as his wife and son, were reported killed,” and the New York Post listed the relatives reported killed.

Sources differ on precise counts and identifications, and that discrepancy is reflected across the coverage.

Iranian officials and state media have offered limited confirmations and labeled the new leader wounded while keeping him largely out of public view; independent outlets report he is sheltering with restricted communications.

The New Voice of Ukraine said “Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded,” and Chosunbiz quoted Ambassador Alireza Salarian saying Mojtaba “was injured in an airstrike on the 28th of last month.”

Firstpost

CNN noted that Mojtaba “has not been seen in public nor heard from in the days since the announcement of his appointment,” and Firstpost reported that Masoud Pezeshkian’s son said the younger Khamenei “was wounded.”

Several accounts say he is sheltering in a secure facility with limited communications, but public details remain sparse and sometimes inconsistent.

Analysts and multiple outlets emphasise the security implications: state media has used archival footage and AI-generated imagery to fill gaps in public appearances, and experts warn Mojtaba will likely be kept under tight protection as a potential target.

“Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei suffered a fractured foot, bruised eye and face lacerations during the initial wave of airstrikes by the US and Israel, according to new reports”

New York Post

CNN reported that “Iranian state media and propaganda networks have made extensive use of the little archival footage that exists of Mojtaba Khamenei in the meantime, filling in any gaps of footage with AI-generated images.”

New York Post

Firstpost quoted analyst Emile Hokayem saying “Killing him early is certainly an Israeli priority,” and Chosunbiz and The New Voice of Ukraine noted that sources say he is sheltering “in a protected location with limited communications” and may remain out of public view for some time.

The coverage highlights both the personal toll on the new leader and the wider strategic concern about further strikes and leadership vulnerability.