Up to dozens of top Iranian officials may have been assassinated collectively at a few different meetings on Saturday, with indications that Israel focused on this part of the joint US-Israel bombings, while American forces focused on other issues, such as attacking the ballistic missile apparatus, naval targets, and nuclear targets.
Israeli confidence has grown over the course of the day that he has been assassinated, though it is not yet definitive.
His well-known command center in Tehran was bombed, but reports were that he was not there.
However, in June 2025, Israel managed to assassinate top Iranian officials, also at their backup secret locations.
Ali Larijani, who has been Khamenei’s stand-in to run the country in recent weeks, as the ayatollah went underground to try to avoid assassination, may also have been killed.
Ali Shamkhani, another top security aide to Khamenei for over a decade, has been confirmed killed, though he was also thought to be killed in the June 2025 Operation, and at that time survived.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Chief Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, who just recently replaced his predecessor who was killed in June 2025, has been confirmed killed.
Esmail Qaani, who replaced the infamous Qasem Soleimani aas head of the feared IRGC Quds Force after he was assassinated in 2000, could have been killed in the same attacks.
Iran army military chief, Abdolrahim Mousavi, who also replaced his predecessor who was killed in June 2025, also may be dead.
The Defense Minister for Iran, Amir Nasirzadeh, is also among the top officials confirmed assassinated.
Two top Iranian nuclear officials tied to its SPND program are also confirmed assassinated.
In general, Iran reports that 201 people have died and 747 have been injured.
There has not yet been a breakdown of combatants to civilians, but in June 2025, Israel was credited with a low civilian casualty ratio.