Israel says Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died

It is reported that the Israeli government believes that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed following an emergency joint military operation launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. 'N12 News', a major Israeli news service, quoted a senior Israeli official as stating that they have concluded that the Iranian leader is no longer alive after this joint attack.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to 'NBC News', stated that he believes both the Supreme Leader and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are still alive and unharmed. He emphasized that most high-ranking government officials are safe, adding that even if one or two military commanders have been lost, it is not a serious situation.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Iran's Defense Minister and the chief commander of the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have also been killed in these attacks. Citing an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) official, 'Axios' news website also confirmed that attacks were simultaneously launched on three locations where key figures of the Iranian regime were gathered, and several senior officials essential for governing Iran were killed.

US President Donald Trump officially announced in a video message that "major combat operations" have begun in Iran. The President stated that his goal is to protect the American people by destroying the severe threats posed by the Iranian regime, and he urged all Iranian people to take control of the government into their own hands after the American operations conclude. He also pledged that the United States would support the Iranian people with massive and destructive power.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that this joint operation creates the necessary environment for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands. The Prime Minister further emphasized that the time has now come for all Iranian people, including Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Balochs, and Ahwazis, to escape the yoke of cruel rule and achieve freedom and peace.