feb 28, 2026 - Assassination of Ali Khamenei

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On February 28th, 2026, Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, was assassinated in Tehran as part of a series of Israeli airstrikes aimed at high-ranking Iranian officials. Khamenei's death was confirmed by the Iranian government on March 1st. His death occurred as part of a wider joint operation by the United States and Israel, using strategic locations intelligence from the US's Central Intelligence Agency to determine the whereabouts of several leaders. Satellite imagery suggested that Khamenei's residence in the city was severely damaged during the attack.

Following initial Israeli reports that Khamenei had been killed in the operation, US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Khamenei was dead. After Iranian state media confirmed his death, the government announced 40 days of mourning and seven days of public holiday. The Fars News Agency announced that Khamenei's daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law and daughter-in-law had also been killed in the strikes. Despite an initial announcement that Khamenei's wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, had died from her injuries on March 2nd, Fars reported on March 12th that she was still alive.

As Khamenei's death was confirmed, many Iranian civilians went out to celebrate in the streets. Elsewhere in Iran, thousands gathered on streets in mourning and stated on social media that they were mourning his death. Protests against the 2026 Iran war occurred in multiple countries. Iranian diaspora members around the world participated in joyful gatherings.

A previous plan to assassinate Khamenei by Israel during the Twelve-Day War on June 15th, 2025 was vetoed by Trump, according to unnamed US officials.

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