Iran's supreme leader presumed dead after U.S.-Israeli strikes, Israeli officials say

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is presumed dead following a joint military operation conducted by the United States and Israel on Saturday, according to Israeli officials who spoke with CBS News, marking a potentially seismic shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics. The unprecedented attack targeted Khamenei's location in Tehran, with initial reports suggesting the 84-year-old spiritual leader was killed in the precision strike that has not yet been officially confirmed by Iranian authorities. The operation represents the most significant direct action against Iranian leadership since the assassination of Qasem Soleimani in 2020, escalating tensions between Iran and Western powers to unprecedented levels. The Biden administration has not yet issued an official statement regarding the operation, though sources familiar with the matter suggest the action was taken in response to Iran's accelerated nuclear program and recent attacks on U.S. interests in the region. Iranian state media has gone silent on the matter, fueling international speculation about the situation within the country's power structure.