Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening claimed that same-day airstrikes destroyed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound in Tehran, while adding that “all indications show this tyrant is no longer with us”.

Although not explicitly confirming the supreme ayatollah’s death, it marked the most pronounced official statement that the latter was killed.

Khamenei has not been heard from since US and Israeli air and missile strikes began. Satellite imagery showed that his heavily fortified compound was heavily damaged in the initial barrage.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi earlier told NBC News that the supreme leader was alive “as far as I know”.

A satellite photo shows the heavily damaged compound in Iran where the supreme leader of Iran reportedly was when the bombing began.