Fox News is reporting that the Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in the bombing

February 28, 2026 – TEL AVIV, Israel – Fox News is reporting that they were told by an Israeli official that the Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in the air strikes which targeted senior Iranian leaders, command and control, air defenses, nuclear sites, and missile launchers.

Over 200 Israeli jets participated in the attack (the largest air strike in their history) along with U.S. Air Force and Navy jets and tomahawk cruise missiles fired by the U.S. Navy.

Iran has fired ballistic missiles in response to the attack targeting Iran and U.S. bases in the region. Iran's ballistic missile capabilities were degraded in last year's war with Israel and the U.S. Reuters and CBS News are also reporting that they were told by an Israeli official that Iran's supreme leader is dead.

The Iranian government is denying those reports. Reuters is reporting that Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says Khamenei is alive, along with other senior officials. Iran's finance minister has also publicly stated that Khamenei is alive.

Alabama Gazette senior political columnist Perry O. Hooper Jr. said, "Khamenei, the leader of Iran, is Dead! I am so grateful for our Military and so thankful for President Trump! GOD BLESS THE USA!"

Neither the Israeli or U.S. governments are reporting the death of the 86-year-old cleric turned dictator.

Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei was born on April 19, 1939, in Mashhad, Iran, Khamenei's father, Javad Khamenei, was a local religious scholar. He studied in the seminaries of Mashhad, Najaf, and Qom. He was a student of Ayatollah Hossein Borujerdi and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

SAVAK, the Shah's secret police, arrested Khamenei several times over his political activism.

Khamenei was an early supporter of Khomeini's revolution in 1979. He became an early member of the new Islamic Republic's Islamic Revolutionary Council. Khomeini appoint Khamenei deputy defense minister. He also served as Tehran's Friday Prayer leader, a highly influential post.

President Mohammad-Ali Rajai was assassinated in 1981. Khamenei was then elected President of Iran. He served two terms until 1989 where he oversaw the Iran-Iraq War.

In 1989 Khomeini died. Khamenei was not yet a Grand Ayatollah. Despite this he was elected Supreme Leader - a position he has held since.

Khamenei has shaped Iran's pro-terror foreign policy, pursuit of nuclear weapons, and brutal repression of the people of Iran.

Khamenei publicly order the deaths of 32,000 protestors – many of them just protesting the price of bread and high unemployment.

President Donald J. Trump (R) ordered the air strikes after negotiations over Iran's nuclear program broke down last week.

Khamenei married Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh in 1964. They have six children. His brothers Mohammad and Hadi Khamenei are also public religious and political figures.

Khamenei's image has been carefully presented by Iranian media to emphasize his piety, ideological stability, and simple personal lifestyle. He reportedly is interested in poetry, literature, and gardening.

In the 1970s Iran was the most modern and most western Muslim country in the Middle East. Under Khamenei Iran was transformed into a militarized theocracy with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp at its center.

Khamenei was reportedly in his compound meeting with senior government, military, and Revolutionary Guard leaders. Some of whom could also be dead.

His death has not been confirmed as of press time.

The U.N. Security Council is holding an emergency meeting at the request of several nations to discuss the ongoing military attacks.

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