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  "path": "/news/world/iran-live-ali-khamenei-supreme-leader-donald-trump-israel-us-strikes",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-28T23:41:08.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "textContent": "\n\n\nThe Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are set to appoint a new Supreme Leader within hours after President Donald Trump hailed the death of the 'evil' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.\n\nAn announcement on his successor is expected in the early hours of Sunday morning, however, Islamic Republic officials have yet to confirm the death of the 86-year-old leader.\n\nOn his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump declared: \"Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.\n\n\"This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all great Americans, and those people from many countries throughout the world, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty thugs.\n\nHe added: \"We are hearing that many of their IRGC, military, and other security and police forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for immunity from us.\"\n\nThe President went on to say that \"heavy and pinpoint bombing\" will continue in Iran will continue until \"peace throughout the Middle East and, indeed, the world\" is achieved.\n\nThe conflict has spilled over into surrounding countries, with Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan all being targeting since the US and Israel launched military action against Tehran on Saturday morning.\n\n**_FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.._**\n\n### RECAP: How did we get here?\n\n\n\n\nJust after 6am GMT, Israel launched what it described as a “pre-emptive attack” on Iran, with waves of strikes hitting Tehran and several other cities.\n\nDefence Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Saturday morning that a “special and permanent state of emergency” had been declared across Israel.\n\nAn Israeli official said the operation had been planned for months, with the launch date set weeks ago.\n\nDozens of American strikes were then carried out by warplanes operating from bases across the Middle East.\n\nPresident Donald Trump later confirmed the US military had begun “major combat operations” in Iran.\n\n\"Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.\"\n\nHe also urged the Iranian people to “take over your government” once the military action is completed.\n\nIran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard responded by launching waves of drone and missile strikes against Israel, as well as targets in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan.\n\nIsraeli officials later claimed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed in US and Israeli air strikes, with his body reportedly recovered from the rubble following a “major combat operation”.\n\nDonald Trump confirmed the Islamic Republic’s leader had been killed shortly after the reports surfaced, writing on Truth Social: \"Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.\"\n\n###\n\n\nOur Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter",
  "title": "Iran LIVE: Revolutionary Guard Corps to announce new Supreme Leader within hours as Donald Trump hails death of 'evil' Ali Khamenei"
}