WATCH: Cheers Break Out In Iran As Fireworks Gentle Up Sky After Khamenei’s Loss of life
Celebrations reportedly erupted in parts of Iran on Saturday after news spread that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may have been killed in a joint U.S.–Israeli military operation.
Videos circulating on social media show fireworks lighting up the night sky and crowds cheering in what appear to be residential neighborhoods across the country.
The clips surfaced shortly after Israeli and U.S. sources indicated that Khamenei was likely killed during a coordinated strike targeting high-level Iranian military and government sites in Tehran.
Israeli journalist Amit Segal posted on X: “After Khamenei’s death: Fireworks of celebration in Iran.”
The reported celebrations follow what U.S. defense officials described as a large-scale strike on Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure early Saturday morning. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there are “strong indications” that Khamenei was killed when his fortified compound in Tehran was reduced to rubble.
WATCH:
After Khamenei’s death: Fireworks of celebration in Iran pic.twitter.com/lgPApS4hIP
— Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) February 28, 2026
سوت و کف و خوشحالی مردم از اخبار به درک واصل شدن خامنهای pic.twitter.com/LLsOcTo23m
— ائتلاف ۱۰ ꪜ 👀 (@etelaf10) February 28, 2026
According to U.S. military sources, the operation, reportedly dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” targeted nuclear facilities, missile sites and senior command structures across Iran. President Donald Trump has not yet delivered a formal address but is expected to speak later today.
If confirmed, Khamenei’s death would mark the most consequential leadership strike in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He assumed power in 1989 following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and has since exercised sweeping authority over Iran’s military, judiciary and political system.
In the immediate aftermath, Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes against U.S. bases and allied targets in the Persian Gulf. Casualties and infrastructure damage have been reported, though full details remain unclear due to a near-total internet blackout inside Iran.
At least one sizable explosion was heard as Israeli Iron Dome missile defense batteries fired into the sky during evacuations. The exact number of missiles launched, and the percentage intercepted, remain unknown as of this report. A number of Shahed-class kamikaze drones were also deployed in the latest barrage.
Impacts inside Israel have been confirmed, though exact figures and casualty counts have not yet been released. As of 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst reported significant damage in Tel Aviv, with rescue operations underway.
Iranian forces also appear to have launched a second wave of strikes targeting U.S. military installations in the region. Missile defense systems were seen firing from Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar, as well as from U.S. bases in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.
Earlier attacks caused damage to both military installations and civilian areas from falling debris and downed missiles. At least one fatality was confirmed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, due to falling debris, while additional injuries were reported in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.
It is believed the same installations were targeted in the second round of attacks. Earlier strikes did not result in any confirmed U.S. casualties. It remains unconfirmed whether any U.S. personnel were harmed in the latest barrage. At least one missile or drone impact was reported at Dubai International Airport, though casualty information has not yet been released.