U.S., Israel Kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in Operation Epic Fury

Multiple outlets report that a U.S.–Israeli military campaign, described in some coverage as "Operation Epic Fury," launched a concentrated strike campaign against Iran.

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12 News KPNX

The campaign included attacks on leadership targets and produced claims that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.

ABC7 News

The Daily Beast said the operation "began Saturday with strikes that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials".

Other outlets described coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran aimed at its leadership, missile forces and nuclear program.

Coverage frames the campaign as a major escalation that has continued over several days as the combatants expand targets and operations.

The campaign coincided with a deadly naval incident in which multiple outlets reported the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was struck and sank in the Indian Ocean.

The attack produced large numbers of dead and injured and fueled Iranian accusations against the U.S.

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera reported Sri Lanka "recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 seriously injured survivors" after the Dena was sunk and said "the Pentagon confirmed the strike and released footage of a Mark 48 torpedo hitting the frigate’s stern."

AP News summarized the incident as Iranian officials accusing the U.S. Navy of sinking the frigate, citing at least 87 killed with Sri Lanka rescuing 32, and noted regional reporting of international search-and-rescue and naval contributions.

Reports about Khamenei's death and the state of Iran's leadership are conflicting and in some cases explicitly described as unverified.

“Sri Lanka has evacuated more than 200 crew from a second Iranian naval vessel and will take custody of the ship, moving it to the northeastern port of Trincomalee amid fears it could be targeted, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said”

Al Jazeera

The Patriot-News noted that media 'claimed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed (these reports are unverified).'

The Taipei Times said 'IRNA announced the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—an announcement that further intensified chaos.'

Global Banking & Finance Review said a report 'said Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated and funeral plans were postponed while the Assembly of Experts prepares to choose a successor.'

The fighting has rapidly spilled beyond Iran's borders and drawn in multiple regional theatres.

Israel reported strikes on Hezbollah-linked targets in Lebanon, and countries across the Gulf and Levant have experienced missile and drone incidents and evacuations.

CP24

The New Indian Express said Israel reported striking roughly 80 targets in Lebanon over the past 24 hours, including 'several command centers' used by Hezbollah in Beirut.

The Shillong Times similarly reported Israel struck about 80 Hezbollah-linked targets and Lebanon reported casualties.

MyNorthwest described wider drone and air-defense activity, including a Shahed drone striking RAF Akrotiri and reports of blasts in Doha and evacuations in multiple capitals.

Kurdistan24 cited warnings from an armed group that it would target European interests if they supported U.S. and Israeli actions, underscoring widening regional security risks.

The hostilities have produced immediate political and economic consequences, with U.S. domestic oversight moving to debate further action while global trade and travel were disrupted and costs mounted.

“Israeli forces struck the southern suburbs of Beirut Thursday evening after warning residents to evacuate; two hospitals were evacuated and Lebanon’s health ministry says the death toll from the recent resumption of fighting with Hezbollah has risen to 123”

AP News

AP News summarized congressional action, saying the House rejected a measure to halt the bombardment after the Senate had already voted down a similar move.

Daily Mail

The Daily Beast and related reporting cited preliminary Pentagon and outside estimates putting very large daily and cumulative costs for an extended campaign.

The Patriot-News and other outlets described widespread disruptions to shipping and aviation, and large-scale evacuations that have left thousands of travelers and nationals displaced.