Iranian media report Khamenei family members killed amid US-'Israeli' strikes

• Supreme Leader Khamenei’s family reportedly killed as US and 'Israeli' strikes hit Iran, 'Israel', and Gulf cities.

Iranian media reported on Sunday that the daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei were killed during US and 'Israeli' military strikes.

Fars News Agency cited sources close to the Supreme Leader’s household, confirming the deaths of the family members.

The strikes reportedly came in a massive coordinated assault, with U.S. President Donald Trump claiming that Khamenei himself had been killed. Trump called for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic, describing Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in history” and urging Iranian security forces to stand down.

Reactions in Tehran and 'Israel'

Witnesses in Tehran told AFP that cheers erupted in the streets after reports first emerged from 'Israel' regarding Khamenei’s death, while plumes of black smoke hovered over the district where he typically resides. Iranian authorities, however, have not officially confirmed the Supreme Leader’s death. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei was alive “as far as I know,” while a foreign ministry spokesman told the BBC he was “not in a situation to confirm anything.”

In 'Israel', Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that there were “many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive” and encouraged Iranians to overthrow the regime. The 'Israeli' army additionally reported the deaths of Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to Khamenei, and General Mohammad Pakpour, head of the Revolutionary Guards.

One apparent survivor, Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, vowed defiance, stating, “The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will teach an unforgettable lesson to the international oppressors.”

Reza Pahlavi, son of the late pro-Western shah, called on Iranians to remain vigilant and to take to the streets when the opportunity arises, declaring that “with his death, the Islamic Republic has effectively come to an end and will soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.”

Widespread impact of strikes

Iranian authorities urged residents to evacuate Tehran, a city of 10 million. The Red Crescent reported at least 201 deaths and more than 700 injuries from the strikes, with one strike hitting a school in the south reportedly killing 108 people. Verification of these figures was not immediately possible.

In 'Israel', residents took shelter as Iranian missile interceptions reverberated overhead. A missile strike killed a woman in Tel Aviv and injured some 20 others.

Meanwhile, UAE, Qatari, and Bahraini cities experienced explosions from retaliatory Iranian strikes, with casualties reported in Abu Dhabi and injuries on Dubai’s Palm Island. The Revolutionary Guards also warned of a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route.

Unprecedented scale of military action

Tehran residents described the strikes as unprecedented. Security forces flooded the streets, shops shuttered, and the usual hustle of the city came to a halt. Witnesses reported seeing Tomahawk missiles heading toward targets before communications and internet access were disrupted.

'Israeli' military officials described the operation as the largest air raid in the history of their air force, with U.S. forces delivering strikes on an unparalleled scale since the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Civilian air traffic was disrupted across Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE, and 'Israel'.

Diplomatic and regional fallout

The strikes follow failed negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over the country’s nuclear program, despite reported breakthroughs mediated by Oman. Both Oman and the UN Security Council have called for immediate ceasefire measures.

As the region grapples with unprecedented escalation, international observers warn of continued instability and the risk of further military and civilian casualties.