Trump confirms Khamenei killed in US-Israeli strikes, Iran disputes claim
The US President says attacks would continue for a week as Iran media says school bombing leaves 108 young girls dead
Agencies
Published: 28 Feb 2026, 12:46 PM
Smoke rises from a burning building hit by an Iranian drone strike, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Seef district, Manama, Bahrain, 28 February 2026. Photo: REUTERS
US President Donald Trump early Sunday officially confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, a few minutes after he said he needed "definitive and visible evidence" to this end.
In an official social media post, he noted that irrespective of the huge gain, US-Israeli combined strikes will continue throughout Iran for a week to neutralise the country's defence capabilities.
However, minutes earlier, a source close to Khamenei told Iranian state media that he was "steadfast and firm in commanding the field" in response to the unprovoked US-Israeli attacks.
Tehran has been responding by hitting almost all the Arab countries hosting US military bases: Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Tehran considers the crisis to be an existential threat and appears unwilling to spare its neighbours. Several top Iranian figures have been reportedly killed in Israeli strikes including Iran's Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's housing compound was severely damaged.
Stay tuned to Daily Sun for live updates as the situation unfolds.