DUBAI, March 1 (Xinhua) — The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint military strike by the United States and Israel on Saturday triggered a rapid escalation of conflict across the Middle East, marked by missile exchanges, rising casualties, and significant political repercussions. Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei’s death early Sunday, with the government declaring 40 days of national mourning.
The initial strikes began around 0620 GMT on February 28, with explosions reported in Tehran, as confirmed by Xinhua reporters on the ground. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz subsequently confirmed a “preemptive” strike, declaring a nationwide state of emergency and activating air raid sirens. Reports from Iran’s Fars news agency indicated missile strikes in central Tehran, as well as in Isfahan, Qom, and Kermanshah, including a strike near Khamenei’s office.
The operation was quickly identified as a joint U.S.-Israeli effort, with both countries closing their airspace shortly after the initial attacks. U.S. And Israeli assessments indicated a determination that negotiations with Iran were no longer viable, with Washington stating the strikes aimed to dismantle Iran’s security apparatus. U.S. President Donald Trump announced a large-scale military campaign to destroy Iran’s missile industry, naval forces, and nuclear capabilities, stating the first phase of operations would last four days and target senior leadership, including Khamenei.
Iran responded with large-scale missile and drone attacks, beginning around 0800 GMT on February 28. Explosions were reported across Israel, causing damage in Haifa, while Iranian media reported strikes on U.S. Military bases in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan. The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced these attacks, and a senior Iranian official stated that retaliation would have “no red lines.”
The conflict quickly resulted in significant casualties. Iranian media reported a deadly strike on a girls’ elementary school in southern Iran, with the death toll rising to 165 by Sunday, according to the official IRNA news agency. The IRGC claimed to have destroyed a U.S. Radar installation in Qatar. By the end of February 28, Iranian media reported strikes targeting at least 14 U.S. Bases in the region, prompting an emergency session of the UN Security Council.
The Iranian Red Crescent reported 201 deaths and 747 injuries across 24 provinces by 1940 GMT on February 28. Early Sunday, March 1, Iranian media reported the deaths of four relatives of Khamenei. Later that day, CBS News, citing U.S. Officials, reported that approximately 40 Iranian officials, including Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour, had been killed.
As Iran prepared for a transition of power, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced contingency plans were in place for the post-Khamenei period. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated an interim leadership council would be formed to select a new supreme leader.
The IRGC escalated the conflict further, claiming to have launched four ballistic missiles at the U.S. Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, signaling a “new phase” in its retaliatory strikes. The Pentagon confirmed the deaths of three U.S. Troops in the operations against Iran, marking the first American casualties of the conflict. The IRGC also claimed to have struck three oil tankers belonging to the United States and Britain in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, reporting the vessels were on fire.
The Israeli military asserted it had achieved “air superiority in the skies over Tehran” following a wave of airstrikes targeting the Iranian capital. As of Sunday evening, the situation remained volatile, with no immediate indication of de-escalation efforts beyond the UN Security Council meeting.
