Israel‑US Joint Strikes: Iranian State Media confirms death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his family members also killed; video shows wave of joy on Iran’s streets

US-Israel Joint Strikes on Iran: After the United States and Israel claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed following a barrage of joint US-Israeli strikes on the country, multiple Iranian state media have confirmed his death. “The Supreme Leader of Iran Has Reached Martyrdom,” state broadcaster IRIB reported Sunday morning, according to CNN. It comes hours after US President Donald Trump, in a social media post, said that Khamenei was killed.

Meanwhile, ⁠Khamenei's daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and ⁠son-in-law ‌were also killed in the joint strikes, news agency Reuters reported, citing Iranian state media on Sunday (March 1, 2026). The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that it has begun another wave of strikes against Iran.

The fresh attack was targeting Iran’s “ballistic missile array and the aerial defense systems,” the IDF said in a statement, as reported by CNN. Iran’s semi-official news agency, Tasnim, later reported that explosions were heard in Tehran.


Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that Khamenei was killed in the major attack launched by Israel and the US. He announced, "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead," Trump wrote in a social media post. A senior Israeli official told Reuters his body had been found following the joint strikes by the US and Israel on Iran.

Trump warned of "heavy and pinpoint bombing" that he said would continue throughout the week and even beyond, part of a lethal assault the US has justified as necessary to disable the country's nuclear capabilities.

“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. He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do,” Trump wrote in a social media post on Truth Social.

“This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country. We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us. As I said last night, “Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!” Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves. That process should soon be starting in that, not only the death of Khamenei but the Country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated,” he added.

“The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!,” Trump warned.

Residents rejoice after Khamenei’s death

As reports trickled out about the death, eyewitnesses in Tehran told The Associated Press that some residents were rejoicing, blowing whistles and letting out ululations.

A purported video clip circulating on social media shows large groups of Iranians celebrating, with car horns blaring. Iran, which responded to the strikes with its counterassault, warned of retribution.




Strikes followed months of rising tensions

The joint U.S.-Israel operation, which officials say was planned for months, took place Saturday (February 28, 2026) during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan and at the start of the Iranian workweek.

It followed stilted negotiations and warnings from Trump, who last year trumpeted his administration's success in incapacitating the country's nuclear program but nonetheless cast the latest round as necessary to head off its potential resurgence.