U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has died following joint strikes by the United States and Israel. The claim, made on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and retaliatory attacks launched by Iran.
According to reports from NBC News and the Guardian, Trump asserted that Khamenei’s death was a result of the coordinated military action. He characterized the Supreme Leader as “one of the worst people in history” and celebrated his alleged demise as a victory for both Americans and Iranians seeking change. Trump further claimed that cooperation with Israel was crucial to the operation, stating that the two nations’ intelligence and tracking systems prevented Khamenei from evading detection.
The announcement coincided with a series of attacks and counter-attacks across the region. Haaretz reported that one person was killed and 25 injured in an Iranian barrage targeting Tel Aviv. CNN reported that at least one rocket penetrated Israeli defenses and exploded in the city, with their teams in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel reporting explosions and sounding of air raid sirens.
Iran has responded with attacks of its own. Authorities in Dubai confirmed a fire at the Jebel Ali port following the interception of a drone, with no injuries reported. Incidents were also reported at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, resulting in one fatality and several injuries at the Dubai airport, and four workers injured in Dubai. Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended operations due to the closure of Qatari airspace.
The U.S. State Department issued an urgent appeal, advising against all travel to the United Arab Emirates, citing a large-scale military operation and the closure of airspace in several countries. Marco Rubio cancelled a planned trip to Israel due to the unfolding situation.
Authorities in Dubai attributed a small fire at the Burj Al Arab hotel to debris from a downed drone. Iranian officials, as reported by the Guardian, claim that hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured in the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Several airlines have been impacted by the escalating conflict. PLL LOT, the Polish national carrier, has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv through March 15, 2026, and has also suspended services to Dubai and Riyadh until March 2nd, following recommendations from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran, reacted to the reports of Khamenei’s death, stating that it signaled the end of the Islamic Republic and its imminent removal from history. Reports from Haaretz indicate celebrations have broken out on the streets of Tehran following the news.
The United Nations Security Council convened to discuss the situation in Iran, with Secretary-General António Guterres describing it as a “serious threat to international peace and security.” Guterres cautioned against the risk of a spiraling conflict in the already unstable region, noting the prevalence of unconfirmed reports. Jarosław Kociszewski, a journalist specializing in international affairs and the Middle East, cautioned that the lack of confirmation from Iran and the nature of the attack – targeting a national leader – suggested a potentially more dangerous escalation than previous conflicts.
