The United States and Israel on Saturday launched coordinated waves of air and missile strikes against targets inside Iran, triggering rapid retaliation by Tehran and plunging the Middle East into its most serious military escalation in decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in the strikes, a claim later confirmed by Iranian state television in the early hours of Sunday. The broadcaster aired archive footage draped in black banners and declared a 40-day national mourning period alongside seven public holidays.
Iranian media also reported that Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were killed. The judiciary further confirmed the deaths of Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Pakpour and senior security adviser Ali Shamkhani, describing them as “martyred” in the attacks.
US–Israel offensive
Posting on Truth Social, Trump described Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in history” and said U.S. operations would continue “as long as necessary to achieve peace throughout the Middle East.” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the campaign was intended to send a clear warning: “We will hunt you down and we will kill you.”
Israel said the operation began with pre-emptive strikes over Tehran, followed shortly by U.S. combat involvement aimed at eliminating “imminent threats.” Israeli officials said more than 200 fighter jets struck over 500 targets, including missile launch sites and locations where senior Iranian officials were meeting.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes killed top Iranian leaders and warned that thousands of additional targets could be hit in the coming days.
Iran’s judiciary said at least 108 people were killed in a strike on a girls’ school in Minab, blaming Israel. Independent verification of the toll was not immediately possible.
Retaliation and regional fallout
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they responded by targeting the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and other American bases across the Gulf, while launching missiles and drones toward Israel. Israel’s emergency service reported one death and at least 21 injuries around Tel Aviv, as search and rescue teams were deployed nationwide.
Following Khamenei’s death, the Guards vowed to unleash what they called the “most ferocious” operation in their history against U.S. and Israeli targets.
Explosions were reported across the Gulf region. The United Arab Emirates said two people, including a Pakistani civilian, were killed after missiles and drones struck its territory. Witnesses in Dubai reported explosions and smoke near the Palm artificial island. Blasts were also heard in Riyadh, Manama and Doha, while Qatar said it intercepted incoming missiles.
Iran also moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments, heightening fears of severe economic disruption.
International reaction
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session, with Iran accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of possible war crimes. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the conflict risked spiralling into an uncontrollable regional catastrophe.
The European Union described the situation as “perilous,” while Russia condemned the strikes as a “dangerous adventure” that could trigger a wider disaster. Oman, which has been mediating talks between Tehran and Washington, said it was “dismayed” by the violence.
Iranian ally Hezbollah urged regional governments and populations to stand against the U.S. and Israel.
Airspace closures
As fighting intensified, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Israel and the UAE closed their airspace to civilian traffic, prompting widespread flight cancellations. Russia suspended commercial flights to both Iran and Israel “until further notice.”
Iranian state television said President Masoud Pezeshkian and two senior officials would oversee a transitional leadership period, as the region braces for further escalation with no immediate diplomatic off-ramp in sight.
