Satellite photos capture devastation at Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei's residence after US and Israeli strikes
Pléiades Neo (c) Airbus DS 2026
- New satellite images show that the main residence of Iran's supreme leader was heavily damaged in strikes.
- The photos appear to show smoke rising from the office building of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- Much of the Tehran compound, including trees and several buildings, was devastated.
Satellite images captured after Saturday's US and Israeli strikes on Tehran show that the residence of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sustained severe damage.
The photos, provided to Business Insider by Airbus, show several collapsed buildings inside a compound in Tehran, which is known to be one of Khamenei's main residences.
It's unclear if the Iranian leader was present at the time of the strikes, though the US, Israel, and Iran all said that he was killed on Saturday.
It's also not yet clear if it was Israel or the US that carried out this particular strike. Representatives for the Pentagon and Israel Defense Forces declined to comment on the hit when asked by Business Insider.
Pléiades Neo (c) Airbus DS 2026
One of the heavily damaged buildings in the compound, at the bottom left of the image, is the House of Leadership, which is known as Khamenei's office and principal place of residence.
In the images, smoke appears to be rising from its roof. Much of the compound has been obliterated, with felled trees and several more smoking buildings.
The large structure to the right of the compound is the Imam Khomeini Hussainia, a place of worship used by Iranian leaders for religious ceremonies and political speeches.
It's unclear whether this larger building was also attacked, but what looks like debris can be seen on its roof.
A satellite image taken a year earlier shows the complex included at least six buildings, all of which are now damaged by the strikes.
Screenshot/Google Earth
A wider-angle view from another satellite image taken on Saturday appears to show that the strike was largely confined to Khamenei's compound, which is located in the heart of the Iranian capital.
Pléiades Neo (c) Airbus DS 2026
The compound's neighboring buildings appear to be intact.
Screenshot/Google Earth
In a video address after the attacks began, President Donald Trump told Iranians to "take over your government."
"It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations," Trump said.
The US and Israel began their attacks on Saturday morning local time, hitting Tehran and several other Iranian cities in what has been one of the largest strike campaigns in recent years.
The full outcomes of these strikes are still being assessed, and much remains unclear about Tel Aviv and Washington's exact objectives behind the attacks.
Meanwhile, Iran has responded by firing dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at its neighbors, saying it is targeting US military bases.
Khamenei had been in power in Iran for almost 40 years as a powerful religious leader in Shia Islam, becoming the country's ultimate authority in government and the military.
It remains to be seen how his death will impact the fate of Iran's military, society, and government structure.
February 28, 2026: This story was updated to reflect the death of Khamenei, as confirmed by the US, Israel, and Iran.