US says Israel killed Iran's leader
The Pentagon confirmed that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed by an Israeli strike. The US quickly distanced itself from the incident, stating these were 'Israeli operations' and not part of the American military campaign, despite escalating conflict in the Middle East involving US and Israeli forces against Iran and its proxies.
Operation Epic Fury was a joint US-Israel military operation launched on February 28, 2026, targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, missile sites, leadership, military infrastructure, proxy networks, and navy. The operation began at approximately 1:15 a.m. EST (09:45 Tehran time) with coordinated strikes on Iranian missile sites and infrastructure. The opening strike targeted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's compound in Tehran at 07:30 UTC on February 28, resulting in his death, which was confirmed by Iranian state media on March 1, 2026. Several of Khamenei's family members were also killed in the attack, including his daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and his wife who died from injuries on March 2.
President Donald J. Trump authorized Operation Epic Fury as a precise, overwhelming military campaign to eliminate the Iranian regime's nuclear threat and end decades of Iranian aggression. The operation involved over 1,700 US sorties striking more than 1,250 Iranian targets in the first 48 hours. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly celebrated the assassination, with Netanyahu citing decades of Iranian hostility toward Israel and the US. President Trump confirmed Khamenei's death, stating that 'the people that make all the decisions, most of them are gone, not only from the one attack, but from two others.'
While the operation was a joint US-Israel effort, the US distanced itself from direct responsibility for leadership targets, with President Trump disclaiming direct US involvement in the strike that killed Khamenei. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth outlined operation goals at the Pentagon on March 2, focusing on IRGC command, air defenses, missile sites, and airfields without mentioning leadership specifics. The strikes decimated Iran's enrichment facilities at Fordow and Natanz and destroyed Iran's metallurgy facilities at Isfahan.
In response to the operation, Iran launched retaliatory strikes, including a missile strike that hit a luxury hotel in Dubai. The conflict escalated with air operations over Tehran and strikes on IRGC sites. CENTCOM reported six US service members killed in the operation. The Iranian government declared 40 days of mourning and a seven-day public holiday following Khamenei's death. The operation, which Israeli forces called 'Roaring Lion,' represented a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict and aimed at regime change pressure through leadership decapitation and destruction of Iran's military and nuclear capabilities.
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