Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 28, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Israel, US launched strikes as Iranian supreme leader met with inner circle — sources
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleIsrael and the US timed their attack on Iran on Saturday to coincide with a meeting the country’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was holding with top aides, according to two US sources and a US official familiar with the matter.
Israeli officials have said Khamenei was killed along with top lieutenants, including Ali Shamkhani, the powerful former National Security Council secretary, and Mohammad Pakpour, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander.
Two Iranian sources tell Reuters that Khamenei was meeting with Shamkhani and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani at a secure location shortly before the strikes started.
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY
Already a member? Log in here