(JNS) An Israel Defense Forces strike killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, an Israeli official told local media on Saturday night.

According to reports, Khamenei’s body, described as riddled with shrapnel, was recovered from the rubble after his compound in Tehran was targeted during the opening phase of Operation Roaring Lion.

Documentation supporting the assessment was in Israel’s possession and had been presented to the prime minister and senior members of the security establishment, the reports said.

Satellite images published earlier Saturday by The New York Times showed extensive destruction at the compound, including collapsed structures and a large plume of black smoke rising from the fortified complex, which serves as both Khamenei’s primary residence and the site where he receives senior regime officials.

“Videos verified by The New York Times showed strikes in an area of Tehran that houses the presidential palace and Iran’s National Security Council, among other important government buildings. Another video showed a strike near the Ministry of Intelligence,” the paper reported.

We obtained the first known satellite image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound in Tehran. There are several destroyed buildings. While the current whereabouts of Iran’s supreme leader are unknown, the compound is generally used as his official residence. 🛰️📸: @Airbus pic.twitter.com/48krjclMBL

— Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) February 28, 2026

An Israeli official confirmed that several senior Iranian leaders were targeted in the strikes carried out by the IDF.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told the BBC on Saturday night that he was “not in a situation to confirm anything” regarding the strike targeting the country’s senior leadership.

A central objective of the first joint wave of strikes was to hit as many leaders as possible, according to three Israeli security officials familiar with the operations, the Times reported, adding that Israeli officials “expected the assault to last several days.”

The United States and Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran on Saturday morning, following months of confrontation across multiple fronts and repeated warnings by Washington and Jerusalem that Tehran’s military and nuclear infrastructure could become direct targets if hostilities intensified.

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