TEHRAN (Azat TV) – Unconfirmed reports emerged on Saturday, February 28, 2026, claiming that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s son-in-law and daughter-in-law were killed in a series of Israeli and US airstrikes targeting locations across Iran. The reports, attributed to a member of the Tehran City Council and carried by Al Hadath, have not yet received official confirmation from Iranian state media or other government sources, adding a layer of uncertainty to an already volatile situation.
The alleged casualties within the Supreme Leader’s immediate family coincide with a broad, coordinated military operation by Israel and the United States, dubbed ‘Roaring Lion’ by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This operation, which commenced earlier on Saturday, aimed to significantly degrade the Iranian regime’s military capabilities and remove perceived existential threats to Israel.
Unconfirmed Reports of Khamenei Family Casualties
The claim regarding the deaths of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son-in-law and daughter-in-law originated from a Tehran City Council member, who stated they were killed in an explosion linked to the widespread attacks. This information was reported by Al Hadath and subsequently noted by news outlets such as news.az and IndiaTVNews. However, Iranian officials and state media have not corroborated these specific reports, leaving the claim unverified as of Saturday evening.
The lack of official confirmation from Tehran is a critical detail, as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to NBC Live, acknowledged the regime may have “lost a few commanders” but maintained that Khamenei himself was “still alive.” Earlier on Saturday, an Iranian official had told Reuters that the Supreme Leader was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a ‘secure location,’ with satellite imagery reportedly showing a destroyed complex where he was said to be guarded.
Widespread Israeli-US Strikes Across Iran
The strikes, described by the IDF as ‘Operation Roaring Lion,’ involved dozens of military targets across Iran, with both air and sea components. The operation was the culmination of months of close and joint planning between the IDF and the US military, aiming to target ‘essential personnel who are part of Iran’s plan to destroy Israel,’ according to an Israeli military official.
Key targets reportedly included the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence headquarters and an advanced SA-65 aerial defense system located in the Kermanshah area in western Iran. Reports also indicated the deaths of several senior Iranian intelligence commanders, including Javad Pourhossein, head of the foreign intelligence unit; Mohammad-Reza Bajestani, head of the security unit; Ali Kheirandish, head of the counterterrorism unit; and Saeed Ehya Hamidi, an adviser on the war with Israel. Additionally, at least three members of Iran’s IRGC-linked Basij paramilitary forces were reported killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement outlining the operation’s goal: to remove the Ayatollah’s regime from power and create conditions for the Iranian people to ‘take their destiny into their own hands.’ He thanked US President Trump for his ‘historic friendship’ and emphasized preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Conflicting Accounts and Regional Fallout
Amidst the ongoing strikes, conflicting reports emerged regarding the status of top Iranian leadership. While some Israeli officials initially informed media that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi later asserted he was alive. Iran’s Security Council instructed residents of Tehran and other major cities to seek protected locations, and the country closed its airspace in response to the attacks.
The regional impact of the strikes was immediate and widespread. Security forces blocked roads in Tehran, particularly near Khamenei’s offices. The IDF issued an urgent evacuation warning for Iranian citizens near military facilities, citing ongoing airstrikes. Simultaneously, Israel entered a state of emergency, with national warnings for citizens to stay near protected spaces. Sirens sounded across northern and central Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as Iranian missile launches were detected, with one rocket reportedly impacting northern Israel.
The strikes also triggered alerts across the Gulf, with smoke seen above Bahrain’s Juffair area, home to a US Navy base. The US Embassies in Bahrain and Qatar urged citizens to shelter in place, and loud blasts were heard in Abu Dhabi, UAE. An Iraqi site associated with Iran-backed Shiite militias, specifically the headquarters of Kataib Hezbollah, was also reportedly struck by an Israeli missile, resulting in two deaths and eight injuries, according to Iraq’s Shafaq News.
The unconfirmed report of casualties within the Supreme Leader’s family, if verified, would represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, directly impacting the highest echelons of Iranian power and potentially intensifying calls for retaliation from Tehran. The immediate lack of official Iranian confirmation, however, underscores the fog of war and the strategic ambiguity surrounding such sensitive developments.