President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on the country.
Major Strikes Launched
The operation, known as Operation Epic Fury, began at 1:15 a.m. ET, according to U.S. Central Command. Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, as well as military airfields.
Strikes were conducted from air, land, and sea platforms. The U.S. deployed low-cost one-way attack drones in combat for the first time.
Trump, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, described the action in a video statement on Truth Social as necessary to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.
He portrayed the regime as a vicious group whose activities endanger the United States, its troops, overseas bases, and allies worldwide.
Trump warned that the strikes could lead to American casualties but stressed the objective of neutralizing threats.
Trump’s Claims on Leadership Losses
In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump stated that “the people that make all the decisions, most of them are gone,” referring to a large portion of Iran’s leadership being killed, though he provided no further specifics.
He later posted on Truth Social: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.”
Trump described the strikes as inflicting tremendous damage, saying it would take years for Iran to rebuild.
When asked about Iran’s next leader, he remarked sarcastically that they might call him for suggestions, before adding that the operation was progressing well, rating it near a perfect 10 on a scale of zero to 10.
Calls for Regime Change
Trump urged Iranian citizens to seize control of their government, calling it their likely only chance in generations to take back their country.
He framed the strikes as part of a broader effort following failed diplomatic talks this week on Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities.
Reactions and Disputes
Iranian state media rejected claims of Khamenei’s death as baseless, pointing to Trump’s history of spreading false information.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghachi stated that Khamenei was alive as far as he knew.
Most Republican lawmakers praised the strikes, while some Democrats and Republican figures such as Rep. Thomas Massie and Sen. Rand Paul criticized the unilateral action without congressional approval.
Critics indicated plans to push for a war powers vote in the House next week.
Trump maintained that the operation was already a success due to the extensive damage inflicted.
