TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top security officials have been killed in ongoing US and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory, according to Iranian state media.
Reports said members of Khamenei’s family, including his daughter, son-in-law and grandson, were also killed in the strikes, marking an unprecedented escalation in tensions between Tehran, Washington and Tel Aviv.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed swift revenge, announcing that it had launched retaliatory attacks on 27 bases hosting US troops across the Middle East, as well as Israeli military facilities in Tel Aviv.
Explosions were reported in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, while air defence systems were activated in several regional capitals. There was no immediate confirmation from US or Israeli officials regarding the extent of the damage.
Iran’s government announced the formation of an interim council to run state affairs, saying President Masoud Pezeshkian would be among those overseeing the country until a new supreme leader is elected under constitutional procedures.
Iranian state media reported that at least 201 people were killed in the attacks across 24 provinces, with hundreds more injured. The casualty figures could not be independently verified.
US President Donald Trump said the bombing campaign would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary” to achieve Washington’s objectives. He did not elaborate on the specific targets or timeline of the military operation.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes have targeted Israeli and US assets in multiple Middle Eastern countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, in addition to Qatar and the UAE.
Several countries across the region announced the closure of their airspace as the exchange of missile and air strikes intensified, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. International airlines began rerouting flights, while governments urged citizens to remain indoors and avoid military installations.
The rapidly unfolding developments have triggered global concern, with diplomatic efforts reportedly underway to prevent further escalation.