US-Iran war: dead Khamenei, chaos in the Middle East

The situation in the Middle East is unstable, due to the recent military attacks by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, while tensions may escalate further in the coming hours, especially after Donald Trump's comments on the death of Ali Khamenei.

On Saturday morning (February 28), the armed forces of the United States and Israel carried out attacks on Iran, following weeks of threats of military action. In retaliation, Iran struck back with missile attacks.

Today's attacks mark a decisive turning point in the balance of power in the Middle East. The coordinated military intervention by the U.S. and Israel, combined with Iran’s retaliatory strikes, is upending the current dynamics in the region.

That same evening, the U.S. and Israel reported that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has been killed as a result of the U.S.-Israeli strikes, and his body has been located, with the Trump and Netanyahu claim they saw a photo of his body.

For now, Iran has not confirmed Khamenei's assassination. Until recently, Tehran had insisted that Khamenei was alive, but it did not provide any evidence.

At the same time, the Israeli army announced late last night that Seven high-ranking Iranian officials were “eliminated” during the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, including the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammad Pakpour, and Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to the Supreme Leader.

An attack targeted a gathering during which “Seven officials of the ”Iranian terrorist regime“ were ”eliminated”, said Army spokesman Brigadier General Efi Defren on television.

"Among them is also Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh," the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, missile attacks between the U.S., Israel, and Iran continue, with Tehran even promising that “It will teach the U.S. and Israel a lesson they will never forget.”.

Iran's latest retaliatory attack on Israel took place a few hours ago in Tel Aviv, causing extensive damage and injuries.

One person died from injuries sustained in the Iranian attack on the Israeli capital, Israeli media outlets confirm this. Twenty-two others were injured.

Trump announced Khamenei’s death on Truth Social – “He’s dead”

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Saturday evening (February 28) that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “is dead” following the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, although there is currently no confirmation from Iran.

“Khamenei, one of the most diabolical figures in history, is dead”, the U.S. president wrote on the Truth Social platform.

U.S. attacks on Iran will continue “without interruption throughout the week or for as long as it takes to achieve our goal of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, IN FACT, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD”, Trump also said.

Here is his post in full:

«Khamenei, one of the most evil men in history, is dead. This is justice not only for the people of Iran, but also for all great Americans, and for all those people from many countries around the world who were killed or maimed by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS. He was unable to evade our intelligence agencies and our high-tech tracking systems, and, in close cooperation with Israel, there was nothing he—or the other leaders killed alongside him—could do. This is the greatest opportunity the Iranian people have ever had to take back their country. We are hearing that many members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Army, and other security and police forces no longer want to fight and are asking us for asylum. As I said last night: “Now they can have asylum; later, they will face only death!” I hope that the Revolutionary Guards and the police will peacefully unite with Iranian patriots and work together as a single force to restore the country to the greatness it deserves. This process must begin soon, as not only has Khamenei’s death, but the country itself, in the space of just one day, been largely destroyed—even wiped out. The heavy and highly targeted bombing, however, will continue uninterrupted throughout the week or for as long as necessary to achieve our goal: PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, IN FACT, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD! »Thank you for your attention to this matter.".

It should be noted that the head of U.S. diplomacy, Marco Rubio has postponed the visit he had planned to make tomorrow, Monday, March 2, to Israel, amid U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, his office at the U.S. Department of State announced.

Netanyahu on Khamenei: “That tyrant is no longer with us”

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that There are many signs indicating that Khamenei «He is no longer with us» and called on the Iranians to complete the mission.

“That tyrant (Khamenei) is no longer with us” he said.

“I appeal to you, Iranian citizens: do not miss this unique opportunity; do not stand idly by, for your time will soon come, the time when you must take to the streets en masse to complete the mission, to overthrow the regime of terror that makes your lives so difficult,”, Netanyahu said, speaking in Hebrew during his televised address.

The Events That Are Shifting the Balance of Power in the Middle East

The United States and Israel On Saturday (Feb. 28), they carried out the most ambitious attack on Iran in decades.

Iran described the attacks against it as unjustified and illegal, and launched missile attacks against Israel and at least seven other countries, including the Gulf countries that host U.S. military bases.

In cities across Iran, Explosions caused widespread panic and some residents tried to flee. In addition, an Israeli strike on a girls' school in Iran caused the deaths of at least 108 schoolgirls.

The attacks occurred weeks after a wave of anti-government protests, which were violently suppressed in a crackdown that claimed the lives of thousands of people. Protesters had taken to the streets again in recent days to honor the memory of last month’s victims.

Trump stated that The attacks were intended to put an end to a decades-long threat from Iran and ensure that it does not develop a nuclear weapon. He called on Iranian security forces to lay down their arms and urged the Iranian people to overthrow their government once the attacks were over.