Iranian state media confirmed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in the opening minutes of joint US-Israel strikes on his Tehran compound during Shabbat Zachor. This is the special Sabbath of remembrance immediately before Purim. An Israeli official told Reuters the body was recovered from rubble after approximately thirty bombs struck the site. Satellite imagery from Airbus revealed the fortified residence largely destroyed. Family members including his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law were killed in the attack. President Trump posted on Truth Social, “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead.” He described the moment as “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.” Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the public directly: “This morning, in a powerful surprise strike, the compound of the tyrant Ali Khamenei was destroyed. There are many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive.” He urged Iranians to take to the streets and complete the overthrow of the regime.

The Timing That Speaks Volumes

The strikes struck precisely on Shabbat Zachor. On this day synagogues read Deuteronomy 25:17-19. This passage commands remembrance of Amalek’s unprovoked attack and the obligation to blot out Amalek’s memory from under heaven. The haftarah from 1........

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