Netanyahu Claims Signs Indicate Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Saturday, February 28, 2026, that there are numerous indications suggesting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may have been killed in recent U.S.-Israeli strikes within Iran [Reuters], [DW].

Recent Strikes and Counterattacks

The claims follow a major joint U.S. And Israeli attack on Iran, which was met with retaliatory missile launches by Iran targeting Israel and U.S. Bases in Gulf countries. Following the strikes on a compound believed to house Khamenei, Netanyahu hinted at the ayatollah’s death [DW].

U.S. Assessment of Iranian Response

The U.S. Military reported that Iran’s counterattacks caused “minimal damage” to its installations, with no reported American casualties [DW].

Calls for Regime Change

Both U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu have urged the Iranian people to overthrow the current regime [DW]. But, Professor Fawaz Gerges of the London School of Economics cautioned that such an uprising could be “suicidal for tens of thousands of Iranians,” given the regime’s deeply entrenched support base and potential for “civil strife” [DW].

International Reactions

Germany, France, and the UK have condemned Iran’s counterattacks in the region [DW].

Confirmation of Death

Channel 12 news reported that both Netanyahu and Trump were shown an image of Khamenei’s body, reportedly recovered after the strikes [The Times of Israel].

Protests and Demonstrations

Protests related to the conflict are occurring internationally. Several hundred protesters gathered in Times Square, New York City, to protest the strikes on Iran, linking the attacks to Israel’s actions in Gaza [The Times of Israel]. Protests similarly took place in Lahore, Pakistan, with demonstrators condemning the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran [The Times of Israel].