The US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, stated on Friday that Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is 'injured, likely disfigured and in hiding.' Hegseth made these statements at the Pentagon, 'without providing proof' of Mojtaba Khamenei's condition, according to The Associated Press, as reported by the Argentine News Agency. Israel suspects Khamenei was injured at the start of the war as he has not appeared in public since assuming leadership. The latest military reports indicate that 15,000 targets have been attacked in recent hours by the United States and Israel, in what much of the world considers a war of aggression that violates all international norms.
Fracture in a foot and minor injuries
A source familiar with the situation told CNN that Khamenei allegedly suffered a fracture in his foot and other minor injuries on the first day of the US and Israeli bombing campaign. In addition to the foot injury, the 56-year-old Khamenei had a bruise around his left eye, as well as minor lacerations on his face, according to the source. An Israeli source previously revealed to CNN that Khamenei was injured in an assassination attempt last week. Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian, told The Guardian that Khamenei was injured in the same airstrike that killed his father, the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with five other family members.
A speech by Khamenei
A speech by Khamenei was broadcast yesterday on Iranian television and published on an official website; however, the CNN correspondent in Jerusalem stated this morning that he has neither been seen nor heard since assuming his duties.
