Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
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Verified Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was the second Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was killed in an airstrike on his compound in Tehran on March 1, 2026.
Their Story
Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei was born in Mashhad, Iran, on July 17, 1939. A student of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, he became a central figure in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Following Khomeini's death in 1989, Khamenei was selected as the country's second Supreme Leader, a position of ultimate religious and political authority he held for 37 years.
On the morning of March 1, 2026, a precision airstrike targeted the Supreme Leader's residential and office compound in central Tehran. Iranian state media reported the strike was conducted by U.S. and Israeli forces. Khamenei, aged 86, was killed in the attack along with several members of his security detail and staff.
The strike occurred during a period of open warfare between the United States, Israel, and Iran, a conflict that escalated from a series of regional confrontations in early 2026. The war involved direct military engagements across multiple fronts, including air, naval, and missile operations.
Iranian state television announced Khamenei's death the same day, declaring three days of national mourning. The attack prompted immediate vows of retaliation from the Iranian military and government. International reactions were divided, with some nations condemning the strike as an escalation while others held the Iranian government responsible for the broader conflict.
Khamenei's death marked the end of his 37-year leadership, a period defined by the consolidation of clerical rule, confrontation with the West, and the expansion of Iran's regional influence. His assassination became a pivotal event in the conflict, shaping its subsequent trajectory.
Explore Further
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during US - Israel War on Iran (2026) (from February 2026 to November -0001). The conflict concluded in November -0001. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: The Schoolgirls of Minab ? 165 Victims, Sgt. Declan Coady, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, General Abdol Rahim Mousavi.
Mar 2026
