Iraq has announced a three-day mourning period following reports of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei being killed in a joint US-Israel airstrike. While Iranian state media confirmed the death, there is no independent international verification so far
-1772351471949_d.png "Iraq declares three days of mourning over Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei")
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Pic/AFP
After Iran’s supreme leader Khamenei was killed in an attack during the early hours of Sunday, Iraq announced a three-day mourning period after the death of Iran's supreme leader.
As reported by news agency AFP, government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi, while issuing a statement, said that "With deep sorrow, we extend our condolences to the noble people of Iran and the entire Muslim world" after Khamenei was killed in "a blatant act of aggression".
Awadi further added that the government had announced three days of mourning while urging an immediate cessation of military operations that are driving the region to unprecedented levels of violence.
Iran and Iraq connection
Iran wields a significant influence in Iraqi politics and also backs armed groups, whose power has grown both politically and financially. Iraq has for decades been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, reported AFP.
The Coordination Framework, a ruling coalition of Shiite groups with varying degrees of links to Iran, said, "With deep sorrow and profound grief, we mourn the passing of the martyred leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,” as cited by AFP.
His "blood will remain a guiding light for all generations", and "the curse will continue to haunt the murderous Zionists for all time", the coalition added.
Influential cleric Moqtada Sadr, meanwhile, said in a statement, "We extend our condolences to the Islamic world," and declared a three-day period of mourning.
Khamenei killed in joint operation by US-Israel airstrike
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reportedly been killed in joint US-Israel airstrikes, according to Iranian state media, reported news agency IANS.
The report, citing sources and carried by Fars News Agency, claimed that four of Khamenei’s relatives—including his daughter, grandchild, and son-in-law—were also killed in the strikes, reported IANS.
However, there has been no independent confirmation of these claims from international agencies or official Iranian authorities beyond state-linked outlets.
Trump claims strike, calls it ‘Justice’
Former US President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, also claimed that Khamenei had been killed in coordinated US-Israeli operations.
Describing the development as a “single greatest chance” for Iranians to reclaim control of their country, Trump said the strike was “justice” for victims of Iran’s policies. He further claimed that Iranian leadership and security forces had been severely weakened.
His remarks, however, have not been corroborated by official US government statements at this stage.
(With inputs from AFP and IANS)
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