BREAKING: Iran President Ebrahim Raisi Killed in Helicopter Accident, Details Emerge
- A helicopter carrying Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, on Sunday afternoon, May 19, crashed in northwestern Iran
- On Monday morning, May 20, it was confirmed that Raisi was among the deceased passengers
- Following the official announcement of Raisi’s death, Iran’s government convened an urgent meeting
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering global news.
Tehran, Iran - Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's president, has been killed in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area of north-western Iran.
The deceased president, 63, was a protégé of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Source: Getty Images
Iranian president helicopter crash
According to Al Jazeera, Raisi was confirmed dead after a helicopter carrying him and other officials crashed in a mountainous and forested area of the country on Sunday, May 19.
Drone footage of the helicopter wreckage taken by the Red Crescent and carried on Iranian state media showed the crash site on a steep, wooded hillside, with little remaining of the helicopter beyond a blue and white tail.
Raisi died alongside Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other officials, AFP noted.
State media reported that although the helicopter had been found, "no sign of life" was detected among those on board.
A Shiite Muslim cleric, Raisi’s presidency was shaped by two major events: the 2022 nationwide uprising and the current Middle East war with Israel.
Following the official announcement of Raisi’s death on Monday, May 20, Iran’s government convened an “urgent meeting” as the clerical establishment, headed by Khamenei, prepares to appoint a new president they could throw their support behind.
Read more about Iran
- Israel discloses when it will respond to Iran's counter-attack
- Israel reportedly launches missiles attacks on Iran, details emerge
- 300 drones, missiles fired as Iran launches retaliatory attack on Israel
Iran vs Israel: Ayodele speaks on 'global war'
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that amid the Iran-Israel conflict, the general overseer of the Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Nigeria, Elijah Ayodele, asked the world to prevent war.
Ayodele's advice was contained in a video he posted on his X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok pages.
Proofreading by James Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
PAY ATTENTION: Unlock the best of Legit.ng on Pinterest! Subscribe now and get your daily inspiration!
Source: Legit.ng
