Pentagon Confirms Khamenei Killed by Israeli Strike

On a Tuesday, Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's policy chief, testified before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, stating that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, was killed by an Israeli strike and not as part of an American military operation.

Colby emphasized that the strike was an Israeli operation, distancing the U.S. from the action amid questions from lawmakers regarding potential regime change in Iran. This testimony contrasted with President Donald Trump's framing of the conflict, where he suggested that Khamenei could not evade sophisticated intelligence systems.

Colby reiterated that the U.S. military campaign's primary objective is to degrade Iran's military capabilities rather than explicitly aiming for regime change. He also noted that the Iranian regime has been involved in a long-standing campaign against the U.S., which Trump highlighted in a social media post, urging the Iranian people to seize the opportunity to overthrow their government.