Is Benjamin Netanyahu Alive? What's True and Fake After Iran Claims Israel PM's Fate Is 'Unclear'

Iran vowed to retaliate against the US and Israel after its Operation Epic Fury on Saturday killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Islamic Republic subsequently launched a wave of strikes across Israel, including Jerusalem, where it claimed to have targeted Prime Minister Benjamin 'Bibi' Netanyahu's official office.

The sirens wailing across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem signalled more than just a standard aerial threat. As plumes of smoke rose from the vicinity of the Prime Minister's office, speculation erupted rapidly across global news feeds, centred on a single question: Is Benjamin Netanyahu still alive?

Israel Denies Reports of Prime Minister's Death: 'Fake News'

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that a precision strike had successfully neutralised the Israeli leader at his office in Jerusalem. The statement prompted immediate celebrations in Tehran, where officials suggested Israel was now leaderless.

Iran targeted Netanyahu's Jerusalem office using Khybar Shekan missiles and claimed his fate was 'unclear'. However, the Prime Minister's Office moved swiftly to correct the record, issuing a firm denial within hours of the IRGC announcement and labelling the claims as deliberate disinformation.

A spokesperson confirmed that Netanyahu was unharmed and operating from a secure location. The office dismissed the IRGC's claim of a successful assassination as 'fake news', adding that the propaganda was designed to demoralise the Israeli public.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter) to announce that he had spoken with Netanyahu by phone and discussed the current situation, becoming one of the first world leaders to make direct contact with the Israeli premier during the crisis.

'I expressed India's concern regarding the recent developments, and emphasised that the security of citizens is the utmost priority. India reiterates the need for an early cessation of hostilities,' Modi wrote.

Tehran Strikes in Retaliation for Khamenei's Death

The scale of the Iranian missile attacks was a direct response to events in Tehran on Saturday. A joint US-Israeli operation had targeted and killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, forcing the IRGC to launch what it termed a crushing response to avenge their spiritual and political leader.

The killing of Khamenei marked the most significant single event in the decades-long confrontation between Iran and the West, prompting Iran's military command to escalate operations across multiple fronts simultaneously.

Iran fired numerous missiles toward targets across Israel, with social media users sharing footage of the assault. One claimed: 'Iranian Missiles [were] literally raining down on Israel.'

Jerusalem and Tel Aviv remain on high alert for further waves of drones and missiles, while the Israeli Air Force has been authorised to prepare for significant strikes on Iranian soil. The exchange of strikes shows no sign of abating as both nations brace for further escalation.

Trump: 'I Got Him Before He Got Me'

While Israel grapples with the immediate aftermath of the strikes, its partner the United States has remained focused on projecting strength and shaping the narrative around the operation. President Donald Trump was quick to comment, positioning himself as the driving force behind Washington's hardline policy against Tehran.

Speaking to supporters at a rally, Trump praised the intelligence services and military personnel involved in the mission for their efficiency. He suggested that Khamenei had been actively planning imminent actions against American interests before the strike took place.

'I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first,' Trump told reporters.

Trump had previously claimed that Iran plotted to assassinate him, adding that the country would be 'obliterated' should it carry out the alleged plot. Iran has since denied those allegations.