Is Khamenei Dead? Iran Supreme Leader Fate Uncertain After Massive US-Israel Strike Kills Top Commanders — Dubai Attacked by Iran Missiles
The fate of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hangs in the balance on Saturday, February 28, 2026 ET, as the United States and Israel launched a sweeping joint military operation against Iran. Israeli intelligence officials assess that Khamenei is dead, while Iranian officials push back, insisting the Iran leader remains alive. Meanwhile, Dubai attacked by Iran missiles and Iranian strikes across the Gulf have sent shockwaves through the region.
Is Khamenei Dead or Alive? What Israeli and Iranian Officials Are Saying
An Israeli official confirmed to Axios that Khamenei is dead and his body was recovered from his destroyed compound, citing Israeli intelligence assessments. The claim sent global media into overdrive, with Fox News, NBC News, BBC News, and the Daily Mail all covering the breaking story in real time.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are still alive "as far as I know," telling NBC he said almost all high-ranking officials were safe, apart from a few commanders. Despite these denials, the Iran supreme leader has not been seen publicly and no video or audio message had been released as of early evening ET.
Khamenei's Compound Leveled — Satellite Images Reveal Destruction
Satellite imagery obtained by the New York Times showed the Tehran residence of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei completely leveled by Israeli Air Force strikes. Analysts reviewing the photos indicate blast patterns are consistent with deep-penetrating bunker-buster munitions designed to destroy reinforced underground facilities.
An unnamed Israeli official claimed that Khamenei's body had been found. Several hours earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive "as far as I know." The conflicting accounts from both sides reflect the fog of an unprecedented military confrontation.
Iran Supreme Leader Dead? Top Commanders Confirmed Killed
Iran's Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) commander Mohammad Pakpour are believed to have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to two sources familiar with Israel's military operations and one regional source.
Iran International reported that strikes killed four senior Iranian intelligence commanders: the head of the foreign intelligence unit, the head of the security unit, the head of the counterterrorism unit, and an adviser on the war with Israel. The decapitation of Iran's military leadership marks the deepest strike against the Iranian supreme leader's command structure in the Islamic Republic's history.
Why Is Iran Attacking Dubai — and the Wider Gulf?
Dubai's nightmare scenario unfolded Saturday as defense systems repelled Iranian missiles and drones over its famous skyscrapers, with random explosions and plumes of black smoke rising from the city-state's most celebrated neighborhoods.
Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic, suspended flight operations until further notice alongside Dubai World Central. The reason Iran is attacking Dubai and Gulf neighbors is retaliation for the US-Israel joint strikes. Iran targeted the Al Dhafra Air Base and Al Fujairah Air Base in the UAE, as well as US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq's Erbil.
Netanyahu Calls for Regime Change — Trump Urges Iranians to Rise Up
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying the aim of the operation was to remove the Ayatollah's regime from power, calling on all sections of the Iranian people to "remove the yoke of tyranny" and bring a free Iran.
President Donald Trump announced the United States had launched "major combat operations" against Iran, urging Iranians to "take over your government" when the strikes are over, declaring "The hour of your freedom is at hand." The Iran leader's fate and the future of the supreme leader position now dominate international headlines across every major outlet.
Succession Crisis and What Comes Next for Iran's Leadership
Khamenei's killing sets off an immediate succession crisis. Under Iran's constitution, a council of clerics is meant to select a new supreme leader — but Israel's strikes also targeted senior IRGC commanders and political leaders, leaving the regime's chain of command in disarray.
Khamenei's son Mojtaba had been widely discussed as a possible successor to his father, but Israeli officials say they assessed that the Iran leader's sons survived the strikes. As the world watches, Iran's supreme leader's death — if confirmed — would mark the most seismic shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics in decades.
