Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed early Sunday in a coordinated strike by the United States and Israel, marking a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The operation, dubbed “Epic Fury” by Washington and “Lion’s Roar” by Jerusalem, targeted the political heart of Tehran, according to multiple reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Khamenei’s death on his Truth Social platform, stating he was “one of the most evil people in History.” Iranian state media confirmed the supreme leader’s death later Sunday, declaring a 40-day mourning period across the country. Initial reports indicate Khamenei’s daughter and grandchild were too killed in the strikes.
The offensive differs sharply from last year’s “Operation Midnight Hammer,” which focused on crippling Iran’s nuclear program. Operation Epic Fury, carried out in broad daylight, appears aimed at dismantling the Khamenei-led political establishment and reshaping power dynamics in the oil-rich nation, officials have stated.
Alongside the strikes in Tehran, retaliatory attacks by Iran have been reported across the region. Missiles struck a U.S. Navy headquarters in Bahrain, and explosions were heard in Abu Dhabi and Doha. Iranian drones and missiles have also targeted Israel and U.S. Military installations around the Gulf, as well as the UAE.
Iranian authorities claim more than 200 people have been killed since the start of the strikes on Saturday. Trump has claimed 48 Iranian leaders have been killed and that nine Iranian naval ships have been destroyed, though independent verification of these claims is pending. The U.S. Military confirmed the destruction of an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette at Chabahar in the Gulf of Oman.
Israel has reported killing 40 top Iranian military officials, including defense minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour. However, the Israeli military stated it was unaware of any involvement in a reported strike on an all-girls school in Minab, southern Iran, which Iranian state media claims killed at least 165 people.
The attacks have prompted a wider regional response. In Israel, at least nine people were killed when a synagogue in Beit Shemesh was struck. In the United Arab Emirates, three people have been killed by Iranian attacks, with the defense ministry reporting the interception of 165 ballistic missiles and 541 bomb-carrying drones. Shrapnel from these attacks killed two people in Abu Dhabi and injured two in Dubai, causing damage to Dubai International Airport, the Burj Al Arab hotel, and the Fairmont The Palm hotel.
Kuwait reported one death and 20 injuries from retaliatory attacks, while Bahrain confirmed a missile attack targeting the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters. A projectile struck a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker off the coast of Oman, killing one crew member, and the port of Duqm in Oman, used by the U.S. Navy, was also targeted. Disruptions to energy supplies are evident, with at least 150 tankers anchoring in Gulf waters near the Strait of Hormuz.
Reports indicate that missiles were also fired in the direction of Cyprus, where the UK maintains military bases. Jordan stated it intercepted 49 drones and ballistic missiles. Clashes between protesters and police in Karachi, Pakistan, following a storming of the U.S. Consulate, resulted in at least nine deaths and 25 injuries.
Three American service members have been killed and five seriously injured in military operations targeting Iran, the U.S. Military confirmed, with reports indicating the attack occurred in Kuwait. The situation remains fluid, with no immediate indication of de-escalation from any of the involved parties.
