Conflicting Reports on Supreme Leader's Status

Israel's N12 News, citing a senior Israeli official, reported that the Israeli government believes Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is deceased. This assessment follows a joint operation launched by the United States and Israel against the Iranian regime, which reportedly took place overnight.

In contrast, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed NBC News in an interview that he believes both Supreme Leader Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are alive.

Araghchi stated, "As far as I know, yes, they are alive," and added that "almost all officials are safe, and sound, and alive."
He acknowledged the potential loss of "one or two commanders," which he characterized as "not a big problem."

Reported Casualties and Strikes

Reuters has reported the elimination of both Iran's defense minister and the commander of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) official, cited by Axios, stated that three sites where Iranian regime gatherings were taking place were struck simultaneously. These strikes reportedly resulted in the elimination of several senior figures described as crucial to the regime's management and governance of the campaign.

Statements from US and Israeli Leaders

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the initiation of "major combat operations in Iran" in a video statement released Saturday morning. President Trump stated the objective is "to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime," which he described as "a vicious group of very hard, terrible people."

He called on the Iranian people to "take over" their government once U.S. operations conclude, promising "America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented that the joint operation aims to "create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands."

He further stated, "The time has come for all parts of the Iranian people—the Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Baloch, and Ahwazis—to cast off the yoke of tyranny and bring freedom and peace-loving values to Iran."