Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reportedly killed in airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force on Saturday, according to Israeli media. The attack targeted Ahmadinejad’s residence in the northeastern Narmak district of Tehran, also killing several of his close advisers and bodyguards, some of whom were reportedly members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Ahmadinejad served as Iran’s president from 2005 to 2013 and was known for his hardline stance toward the West, especially over Iran’s nuclear program. His tenure was marked by controversies, including the disputed 2009 election and subsequent mass protests.
Details of the Attack
Videos circulated on social media show significant destruction at Ahmadinejad’s residence. Reports suggest that two school pupils were among the casualties in the airstrikes. The attacks are part of an ongoing campaign by Israel and the US targeting senior Iranian figures.
In response, Iran’s current President, Masoud Pezeshkian, vowed to continue retaliatory strikes against US and Israeli military bases in the region. “The martyrdom of our leader was a culmination of years of sacrifice,” Pezeshkian said in a national address on Sunday.
Iran has reportedly targeted US bases in Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, as well as facilities in the United Arab Emirates, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The strikes in the UAE have left three dead and injured 58 people.
Regional Reactions and Warnings
Gulf nations have condemned the escalation and called for restraint, emphasizing that Iran’s neighbours are not its enemies. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have warned Iran against further escalation. Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would continue strikes, accusing Iran of causing thousands of deaths and widespread panic across the Middle East.
