By Jared Evan

(TJV NEWS) Scenes of celebration broke out in parts of Tehran on Saturday after a sweeping joint US-Israeli strike destroyed the palace complex of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, even as a nationwide internet blackout obscured the full scale of the damage, Times of Israel reported.

Worldwide, Iranians living in other nations have been reported celebrating, including exiles in Germany and the UK.

We obtained the first known satellite image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound in Tehran. There are several destroyed buildings. While the current whereabouts of Iran’s supreme leader are unknown, the compound is generally used as his official residence. 🛰️📸: @Airbus pic.twitter.com/48krjclMBL

— Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) February 28, 2026

Satellite imagery published by The New York Times appeared to show Khamenei’s sprawling residence in central Tehran completely flattened, with thick plumes of smoke rising from smoldering rubble where the compound once stood. The strike on the symbolic heart of Iran’s ruling establishment was among the most dramatic moments in what officials described as a coordinated campaign targeting military and regime infrastructure.

While Iranian state media reported that Khamenei had been moved earlier to a “secure location,” it was not immediately clear whether he had been present at the palace when it was hit. The destruction of the site nonetheless carried enormous symbolic weight, striking at the core of the Islamic Republic’s leadership.

Girls in Tehran are on the rooftops, overjoyed and celebrating, saying (guessing) Khamenei’s house was hit. pic.twitter.com/m2Os6IROrv

— Iranian American 🇺🇸 (@IranLionness) February 28, 2026

Amid the blackout, videos circulating on social media — which could not be independently verified — appeared to show jubilant reactions from some Iranians. In several clips, people were seen laughing and clapping as smoke rose over central Tehran. One video showed a small crowd dancing in the street, while another captured high school students celebrating inside a classroom. In that footage, one student could be heard saying in English, “I love Trump.”

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the operation was intended to cripple Iran’s military leadership and create an opening for change inside the country. Both leaders publicly urged Iranians to seize what they characterized as a rare opportunity to challenge the regime.

People in Iran are celebrating the war against mullahs! pic.twitter.com/nVgeY4eyt8

— Mahdi (@mahdi) February 28, 2026

Beyond the palace strike, Times of Israel reported that additional targets included military headquarters, intelligence facilities and other symbols of state power across the country. An Israeli official said senior political and security figures were among those targeted, though immediate confirmation of casualties was not available.

Israeli assessments cited by the outlet indicated that top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders may have been killed in the strikes. The Israel Defense Forces had not formally confirmed specific deaths, but officials described “very significant” damage to regime leadership structures.

At the same time, other footage showed thousands of residents attempting to flee Tehran, with highways packed as families sought safety outside the capital. The internet disruption made it difficult to gauge the broader public mood, and reactions likely varied widely across the country.

Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported that one strike in the southern city of Minab hit a girls’ school, killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens more. The report could not be independently verified, and details remained limited as communications were restricted.

Still, the images of Khamenei’s palace reduced to ruins — and of some Iranians openly celebrating the destruction — stood out as defining visuals of the day. As Times of Israel reported,