Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that there were signs Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was “no longer” alive after major U.S.-Israeli strikes, telling Iranians not to miss a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to overthrow the regime.
Watch Netanyahu’s remarks in the video player above.
Saturday’s strikes targeted Iran’s senior leaders and military sites, an escalation of tensions over talks on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump also said Khamenei was dead in a Truth Social post later Saturday. Iran has not commented on Khamenei’s status.
WATCH: War with Iran | PBS News Special Report
Netanyahu said “we will hit thousands more targets of the terror regime” in the coming days. “We will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to free themselves from the chains of tyranny,” he added.
Iranian state media, citing the Red Crescent, on Saturday evening said at least 201 people had been killed and more than 700 injured. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region, and exchanges of fire continued into the night.
The strikes opened a stunning new chapter in U.S. intervention in Iran, marking the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has attacked the country during talks over its nuclear program. The reported killing of Khamenei after decades in power appeared certain to create a significant leadership vacuum given the absence of a known successor and because the supreme leader had final say on all major policies.
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