(TNND) — Hundreds of Persians were seen celebrating across America on Saturday after the news broke that the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, with video showing demonstrators waving American and Iranian flags and cheering.
Independent reporter Raheem J. Kassam described the atmosphere as “crazy” in Washington, D.C., as the song “YMCA” played in the background at the White House and people gathered to “celebrate the ouster of the Iranian Islamic regime.”
President Donald Trump later confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in the airstrikes.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.”
Iranian authorities and Tehran previously denied that the supreme leader was killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address that there was increasing evidence suggesting Khamenei was killed amid the operation.
He added Israeli and U.S. forces specifically targeted Khamenei’s compound during the opening phase of the strikes.
“There are growing signs that the tyrant is no longer alive,” Netanyahu previously said during the address, per the Associated Press.
Citing senior Israeli officials, Fox News said the strikes hit Khamenei’s compound and offices in Tehran, reducing them to rubble. The media outlet also reported that a senior Israeli security official said 40 Iranian security and regime figures were killed in the strike.
Iranians and Iranian Americans were also seen celebrating and dancing in the streets in Los Angeles while chanting “Thank you, Bibi,” referring to Netanyahu.
After the strikes, Trump urged Iranians to “seize control of your destiny” and rise up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take,” Trump said in a video shared on Truth Social. “This will be probably your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it.”
Netanyahu echoed Trump’s call for change in Iran. He said the military operation will create “the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands.”