Top Iranian military leaders among dozens reported dead in joint US-Israel operation
March 1, 2026: A dramatic escalation in the Middle East followed after Iran confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israel airstrikes on Saturday morning. Iranian state television said the attack targeted a high-level defence meeting at his fortified compound in Tehran, with at least seven missiles reportedly striking the site. The operation is believed to have eliminated several of the country’s most powerful military figures in a single coordinated assault.
Among those confirmed dead were Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, Defence Minister Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, and IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour, along with senior security adviser Ali Shamkhani. Reports linked the assault to an operation referred to as “Operation Epic Fury,” with intelligence sources telling CBS News that around 40 Iranian officials may have been killed. Iranian media also claimed that members of Khamenei’s family, including his daughter, son-in-law and grandchild, died in the strike, though some identities remain unverified.
The airstrikes have intensified an already volatile regional crisis, with fears of wider conflict spreading across West Asia. The deaths of Iran’s supreme leader and top defence officials mark one of the most consequential escalations in recent years. As Tehran grapples with a sudden leadership vacuum, the geopolitical repercussions are expected to reverberate far beyond the region.