Iran announces the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and vows a harsh response

Iranian state television announced today, Sunday, the killing of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, putting an end to his nearly 36 years of rule. The official announcement did not disclose precise details about the circumstances of his death, but it coincided with intense airstrikes targeting the capital Tehran and the Supreme Leader's residence, as part of a large-scale military operation launched by the United States and Israel.

In the first military response, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard vowed to inflict "severe punishment" on those they described as the "killers" of the Supreme Leader, emphasizing that the response would be commensurate with the magnitude of the event. For his part, US President Donald Trump confirmed the news of the killing via his social media platform, indicating that the attack aims to destroy Iran's military capabilities and bring about a radical change in the structure of governance, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Khamenei as a "tyrant" who worked for decades to destabilize the region.

Khamenei (86 years old) has been the most powerful man in the Iranian system since his selection as Supreme Leader in 1989, succeeding the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini. Throughout his career, he led the country through severe internal and external crises, including widespread popular protests and regional confrontations, adopting an "iron fist" policy domestically and absolute hostility towards the United States and Israel abroad.

Field reports indicate that Khamenei's killing came at the height of a joint military aggression dubbed 'Lion's Roar,' targeting command and control centers in Iran. Sources had previously reported that the Supreme Leader's residence was subjected to precise raids, which also resulted in the killing of several members of his family and high-ranking security officials, leaving the region facing open scenarios of military escalation.

Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, has been killed.