Ayatollah Khamenei dead - 40 days of mourning as Iran confirms supreme leader was killed in airstrikes on palace by US and Israel

IRAN has announced 40 days of public mourning after confirming the death of its leader Ayatollah Khameni, 86, following a large-scale military operation, including air strikes on his palace by the US and Israel.

In a statement the Islamic Republic news Agency said: "The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khameni, has been martyred following an attack by the Israeli and US regimes.

"Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, was martyred following an attack by the Zionist regime and the United States on Saturday morning.

"The Cabinet has declared 40 days of public mourning and 7 days of holidays following the martyrdom of the Leader of the Revolution."

It comes after US President Donald Trump announced the death of the leader, who had ruled for nearly four decades, after the operation.

The joint campaign, described by US officials as a targeted effort to neutralize Iran’s strategic leadership and military infrastructure, included air and missile strikes that hit sites across the country, including Tehran.

Mr Trump publicly hailed the operation as “justice” and declared the assault part of a sustained military effort, urging elements of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and security forces to stand down.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also reaffirmed continued pressure on Iran in support of what he described as an opportunity for Iranians to challenge the existing leadership.

Shortly after the strikes, Iranian forces launched a series of missile and drone attacks targeting U. military bases and allied locations throughout the Middle East.

Reports indicate strikes on US naval facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, as well as Israeli cities and infrastructure.

Civilian casualties and damage to residential areas were reported, particularly in Israel, where one person was reported dead and dozens more wounded in attacks attributed to Iranian missiles.

Iran’s leadership, while shaken by the loss of Khamenei, has pledged that retaliation will continue until its objectives are met, warning of expanded conflict if confrontations persist. Regional countries have been drawn into the fallout, with airspaces closed, airports disrupted, and markets reacting sharply to the instability around the vital Strait of Hormuz.

One of the most controversial and tragic aspects of the assault has been reports from Iranian authorities that an airstrike hit a girls’ elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, allegedly killing at least 100 people, mostly children.

Iranian state media and local officials described the strike as part of the same US/Israeli military campaign, labeling it a war crime.

Videos circulated on social media and by Iranian outlets show rescue efforts amid the rubble.

The Iranian prosecutor’s office put the initial death toll at 108, though independent verification has been limited and details remain contentious.

An additional alleged strike on a school in the Tehran area was reported to have killed at least two students, further inflaming outrage inside Iran and internationally.

Iranian authorities have submitted formal complaints to the United Nations, demanding a Security Council emergency session to address what they call unlawful targeting of civilians.

Neither the US nor Israeli governments have publicly taken responsibility for the school strike, though US military spokespeople said they were “aware of reports” and were investigating. Independent confirmation from neutral observers is still pending.

The international response has been mixed.

Some Western leaders have called for immediate de-escalation and diplomacy to prevent a wider war, while others have expressed deep concern over civilian casualties and adherence to international law.

The conflict has already disrupted oil markets and raised fears of prolonged regional warfare.

Within Iran, the loss of the longtime supreme leader has created both a leadership vacuum and political uncertainty, with no immediate successor confirmed and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps expected to play a dominant role in shaping the next phase.

Analysts warn that the situation could unfold along several trajectories with further military retaliation by Iran or its regional allies, succession and internal power struggles in Tehran, international diplomatic pressure to halt hostilities and humanitarian concerns, especially regarding civilian casualties and displacement.

This remains a rapidly evolving crisis with significant implications for global security and regional stability.