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U.S.-Israeli Strikes Kill Iran's Supreme Leader, Escalate Tensions

3/17/2026

33 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

On February 28, U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, according to the IDF.
Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij force, was also reported killed in the strikes.
Ali Larijani becomes the de facto leader of Iran, according to the IDF.
The events mark a critical escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel.

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Story summary

On February 28, U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, according to the IDF.
Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij force, was also reported killed in the strikes.
Ali Larijani becomes the de facto leader of Iran, according to the IDF.
The events mark a critical escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel.