Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law and grandchild killed in US-Israel strikes
TEHRAN, IRAN: Iranian state media has officially confirmed the death of their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at age 86, following the joint military operation by the US and Israel.
Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, confirmed that Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild were also killed in the precision strikes.
US-Israeli strikes launched during Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s top leadership meeting
According to two US sources and a US official, the United States and Israel carefully coordinated the operation to strike at the exact moment Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was gathered with his most senior aides.
Two Iranian sources told Reuters that Khamenei was in a meeting with former National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani at a secure location shortly before the strikes began.
Israeli officials have since confirmed that the operation led to the killing of Khamenei alongside his key lieutenants, including Shamkhani and Mohammad Pakpour, who served as the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Public celebrations reportedly break out in Iran
As the news spread, people in many Iranian cities reportedly took to the streets to celebrate.
CNN reported that crowds were cheering, whistling, and shouting slogans like "Death to the Islamic Republic" and "Long live the Shah."
🚨 Today, Iranian female university students set the regime's flag ablaze.
— Daughters of Persia (@fightforpersia) February 23, 2026
As the smoke rose, the air was filled with a single, unified roar: "Death to the Islamic Republic!" The women of Tehran are leading the way to a free Iran.⁰#FreeIran #IranProtests #IranRevolution2026… pic.twitter.com/fedURKCGXi
Several prominent figures shared their reactions online. Eylon A Levy, a former Israeli spokesperson, posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) and said, “Iranian women are dancing in the streets—without hair coverings—after hearing that Israel killed the tyrant Khamenei. So many Western leaders should feel ashamed at their cowardly response this morning. We will all remember.”
Iranian women are dancing in the streets—without hair coverings—after hearing that Israel killed the tyrant Khamenei.
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) February 28, 2026
So many Western leaders should feel ashamed at their cowardly response this morning. We will all remember. pic.twitter.com/Rh4cJQZGAO
Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad also shared videos of the celebrations, writing, “A video of Iranian people celebrating inside Iran, Am I dreaming? Hello, new world.”
She later added in a personal message, “Every morning I wake up reading that my people are being killed by Ali Khamenei. But this is the first morning in my life that I get the good news and I want to run. I want to just run and shout, and shout out of joy.”
Iranian human rights activists @AlinejadMasih breaks down in tears over the elimination of Khamenei.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 28, 2026
“Every morning I wake up, reading that my people have been killed by Ali Khamenei and this is the first morning in my life that I get the good news.”
pic.twitter.com/1ap0FrHVso
Trump’s statement on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death
Meanwhile, President Trump confirmed Khamenei's death, describing it as "justice for the people of Iran," Americans, and many countries throughout the world.
He promised that the military actions would continue until peace is achieved.
"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..." - President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/oXZTFGg5pS
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 28, 2026
On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “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 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."
