Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead and his body has been found, a senior Israeli official told Reuters on Saturday after US and Israel launched a massive joint operation in Iran. In addition, Two Israeli television networks independently reported Khamenei’s death. Earlier, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “there are many signs” that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed Saturday morning, as part of a major U.S.-Israeli attack on the country. Some of the first strikes on Iran appeared to hit near the offices of 86-year-old Khamenei. Smoke rose from the capital as part of strikes that Iranian media said occurred nationwide. In a nationally televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes had targeted Khamenei’s compound and that “there are many signs that this dictator is gone”. Iranian state media, citing the Red Crescent, on Saturday evening said at least 201 people had been killed and more than 700 injured. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region, and exchanges of fire continued into the night.
Kanal13
Kanal13 is an independent media platform providing news, analysis, and on-the-ground reporting on global political developments, security issues, and human rights. Our coverage focuses particularly on developments in Iran, Ukraine, Russia, the South Caucasus, and the broader post-Soviet region.One of Kanal13’s reports on Iran was cited by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 8, 2026. Our mission is to provide independent journalism and reliable information.Managing Staff: - Founder and Director: 𝗔𝘇𝗶𝘇 𝗢𝗿𝘂𝗷𝗼𝘃 (twice recognized by international human-rights organizations as a prisoner of conscience, in 2017–2018 and in 2023–2025) - Editor-in-Chief: Lamiya CherpanovaKanal13 actively covers: • Russia’s war against Ukraine • geopolitics and international relations • human rights and freedom of speech • developments in the post-Soviet region© 𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗟𝟭𝟯 - We are online since 2008