Breaking: Iran Confirms Death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Announces Next Action

Breaking: Iran Confirms Death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Announces Next Action

  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confirmed dead following US-Israeli strikes, prompting 40 days of mourning in Iran
  • Khamenei's family members, including his daughter and grandson, were reportedly killed in the same attack
  • Protests have erupted in Baghdad as demonstrators confront security forces amid rising tensions following Khamenei's death

Tehran, Iran - The death of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been confirmed following the Israeli-United States attacks. He was killed at his office early Saturday, February 28, while “performing his assigned duties.”

Al Jazeera cited Iran’s Fars and Tasnim news agencies as confirming the development, adding that 40 days of public mourning have been declared.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confirmed dead after US-Israeli strikes
Iran confirms Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead after US-Israeli strikes, sparking national mourning. Photo credit: @khamenei_ir
Source: Twitter

Legit.ng gathers that Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were also killed.

How Netanyahu, Trump announced Khamenei’s killing

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said there were "growing signs" that Iran's supreme leader, Khamenei, is "gone" after US and Israeli strikes.

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Breaking: Donald Trump speaks on Iran's Supreme Leader's death

Netanyahu, however, did not specifically state whether he is dead or not.

The BBC reported that earlier satellite images showed damage to Khamenei's compound in Tehran. It adds that unconfirmed reports in Israel and the US say he was killed.

President Donald Trump also stated in a Truth Social post that Khamenei was killed.

Meanwhile, the last post that Legit.ng sighted on Khamenei’s verified X handle appeared to have cryptically confirmed the death too. The post, which features Khamenei’s photo, reads:

"In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
"Among the faithful are men who fulfill what they have pledged to Allah: there are some among them who have fulfilled their pledge, and some of them who still wait, and they have not changed in the least (Holy Quran 33:23)."

Khamenei’s killing: Protests erupt in Baghdad

Meanwhile, the US and Israel’s killing of Khamenei has triggered protests in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad.

Read also

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed, Reuters and Israeli media report

Protesters were reportedly seen confronting security forces in the city’s Green Zone – the heavily-fortified area serving as the seat of the Iraqi government, parliament and foreign embassies.

Al Jazeera reported that verified videos show protesters waving flags and shouting slogans. Witnesses said the protesters were attempting to mobilise to storm the US Embassy there.

The footage also shows several protesters attempting to block vehicles at a roundabout near a gate leading to the Green Zone.

Follow Legit.ng's live updates of the US-Israel attacks on Iran here.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confirmed dead after US-Israeli strikes, sparking national mourning in Iran
Khamenei's family members, including his daughter and grandson, reportedly die in the US-Israel strikes. Photo credit: @khamenei_ir
Source: Twitter

US-Israel attacks on Iran: Nigerian govt reacts

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian government said it was monitoring the development in the Middle East following the joint military attack against Iran by Israel and the United States in the region.

According to a statement from Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Nigerians living in Iran and its neighbouring Gulf countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Dubai and others, are to take five precautionary measures.

The Nigerian authority urged its citizens in the affected areas to stay alert and keep their distance from the areas that are considered sensitive or strategic, such as government installations and military bases, which could become targets in further conflicts. In the advisory, non-essential movement should be limited, while public gatherings or demonstrations should be avoided until there is an improvement in security.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nurudeen Lawal avatar

Nurudeen Lawal (Head of Politics and Current Affairs Desk) Nurudeen Lawal is an AFP-certified journalist with a wealth of experience spanning over 8 years. He received his B/Arts degree in Literature in English from OAU. Lawal is the Head of the Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. He was named the Political Desk Head of the Year (Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award 2023). Lawal is a member of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network. He is also a certified fact-checker (Dubawa fellowship, 2020). Contact him at lawal.nurudeen@corp.legit.ng or +2348054399455.