Netanyahu: ‘many indications’ Khamenei no longer alive

After Saturday’s attacks on Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Jewish state’s air force had destroyed the compound of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. ‘There are many indications that Khamenei is no longer alive,’ he added.

However, he did not confirm Khamenei’s death, which would contradict earlier statements by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi, who said the leadership of the theocratic regime remained intact.

According to Netanyahu, in addition to the Supreme Leader, several commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other ‘core figures’ had also been killed.

The Israeli prime minister then called on Iranians to ‘fill the streets and finish the job’, in what amounted to a direct appeal for regime change from within. Both Tel Aviv and Washington were said to be hoping that the bombing of the Islamic republic would bolster protests that have continued since around Christmas last year.

(reuters, sab)