Daniel Estrin

Even the opposition in Israel is supportive of these strikes, and they see this as kind of golden opportunity with all the U.S.

military buildup in the region to really strike at Iran and strike at this big enemy.

But for average people here, they're really tired after two and a half years of war.

And you know how war starts.

You don't know how it ends.

And I'm hearing a lot more apprehension than I think I had expected here.

His death has not yet been officially announced, but a person briefed on the strike told NPR that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader since 1989, was killed in Israeli strikes.

Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were growing indications Khamenei was dead.

Israeli media are reporting Khamenei's body has been pulled from the rubble.

An Israeli military official told reporters that three separate gatherings of senior officials were struck simultaneously Saturday morning local time,

at the start of the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.

The official said several central government figures in Iran were killed.

President Trump and Netanyahu have called on Iranians to rise up and topple the Iranian regime.

Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

Thank you, Scott.

Well, I can't say this was a complete surprise.

I mean, Israelis have been anticipating military action for many weeks now.

And yesterday, the U.S.

ambassador to Israel told his embassy staff if they wanted to leave Israel, then yesterday was the day to do it.

And since this morning, there have been several waves of air raid sirens.