Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a U.S.-Israeli military operation Saturday, President Donald Trump announced Monday, escalating a conflict that has already claimed hundreds of lives and sparked fears of a wider regional war. The announcement came as U.S. Officials stated they have the capability to continue military operations against Iran “far longer” than the initially projected four-to-five-week timeframe.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump posted on social media, echoing statements made over the weekend. Iranian state TV confirmed Khamenei’s death Saturday night, according to reports. The 86-year-old leader had ruled Iran since 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
As of Tuesday, at least 555 people have been killed in Iran by the U.S.-Israeli campaign, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, with more than 130 cities across the country under attack. In Israel, 11 people have been killed, and 31 in Lebanon, authorities reported. The U.S. Military announced Monday that two previously unaccounted for service members were confirmed dead, bringing the total American casualties to six.
The conflict has expanded beyond Iran’s borders. Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut Tuesday morning, targeting what the Israeli military described as “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities.” Hezbollah responded by launching drones toward an Israeli air base, two of which were reportedly downed by Israeli forces. Sirens also sounded in Bahrain early Tuesday, prompting residents to seek shelter.
Japan has urged its shipowners to steer clear of the Persian Gulf to ensure the safety of their crews, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stating that vessels already in the Gulf should remain at anchor where safe. Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also met with Iranian ambassador Peiman Seadat, reiterating Japan’s stance that Iran must cease destabilizing actions and ensure the safety of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for Japan’s energy security.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision to go to war, claiming Iran was rebuilding facilities to create its nuclear program “immune” within months. He did not provide evidence to support this claim. Satellite imagery analyzed by the Associated Press showed limited activity at two nuclear sites prior to the war, suggesting Iran may have been assessing damage from previous strikes.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Of entering “a war of choice on behalf of Israel,” and called on the American people to “take back their country.”
The conflict is also impacting civilian infrastructure. UNESCO has expressed concern over damage to the Golestan Palace, a World Heritage site in Tehran, following a nearby airstrike. A fire broke out at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after an attack by drones, though details remain limited. Australian military facilities in the United Arab Emirates were also targeted by Iranian drones, though no injuries were reported.
The U.S. State Department has urged all American citizens to depart more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel, due to safety risks. Several major airlines have canceled flights to and from the region.
U.S. Lawmakers received a classified briefing on the operation, with differing views emerging. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson described the attack as a “defensive operation” prompted by Israel’s determination to act, while Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, stated there was no imminent threat to the U.S. From Iran. The Trump administration is expected to seek supplemental funding from Congress to cover the costs of the operation.
Al-Azhar al-Sharif, the Sunni Muslim world’s foremost seat of religious learning, has called for an immediate halt to the war, denouncing attacks on Arab countries. The Soufan Center, a New York-based think tank, warned that Iran’s targeting of the energy sector introduces a “new and dangerous dimension” to the conflict, potentially imposing global economic consequences.
The U.S. Military claims to have destroyed 11 Iranian warships in the Gulf of Oman since the start of the conflict. Iranian state media reported that Iranian military forces have shot down 20 “enemy drones” since Saturday.
Iran-backed Iraqi militias have threatened attacks on American military bases in Jordan. Meanwhile, Israel struck a Hezbollah-linked financial institution in Lebanon, targeting branches of al-Qard al-Hasan, which it alleges funds the militant group’s military wing.
