JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Saturday that Israeli-US airstrikes in Iran may have killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing the operation as a decisive blow against three decades of Iranian aggression.
In a stark video statement released early on February 28, Netanyahu declared, “This morning we destroyed the compound of the tyrant Khamenei.” He accused the 85-year-old cleric of fueling global terrorism, oppressing Iranians, and relentlessly pursuing Israel’s destruction through a covert nuclear program.
“There are many signs that this tyrant is no longer,” Netanyahu added, without providing concrete evidence. He boasted of eliminating top Revolutionary Guards commanders and nuclear program officials in the strikes, promising to target “thousands more” Iranian sites in the coming days.
The announcement marks a dramatic escalation in the shadow war between Israel and Iran, which has intensified since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. U.S. involvement was confirmed by Netanyahu, signaling rare public coordination amid ongoing U.S. support for Israel’s defense. Iranian state media has not yet responded, but unverified reports from Tehran describe heavy explosions near sensitive military compounds overnight.
International reaction poured in swiftly. U.S. President Joe Biden’s office called the strikes “targeted and proportionate,” while urging restraint to avoid a broader regional conflict. The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency session, with Russia and China condemning the action as a violation of sovereignty. Oil prices surged 5% in early trading, reflecting fears of disrupted Persian Gulf shipments.
Analysts warn of potential Iranian retaliation, possibly through proxy militias in Lebanon, Yemen, or Syria. “If Khamenei is indeed gone, it could fracture Iran’s leadership or ignite a succession crisis,” said Middle East expert Dr. Sara Hosseini of the Brookings Institution. “But Netanyahu’s bravado risks pulling the U.S. deeper into war.”
Israel’s military confirmed the operation but offered no details on Khamenei’s status, citing operational security. As tensions boil, the world watches whether this heralds the end of an era, or the spark of a new one.