Regional conflict escalates between U.S., Israel, and Iran

A major military escalation unfolded in the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran, with Iranian state media reporting the death of the country’s longtime supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The strikes began on Saturday and targeted military facilities and senior Iranian officials in and around Tehran as part of a joint operation by Israeli and U.S. forces. Explosions were reported across the Iranian capital and other cities as hundreds of military targets were hit.

Iranian state media and officials said Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was killed in the attack along with several other senior leaders and family members. U.S. and Israeli officials also indicated the operation aimed to eliminate key figures within Iran’s leadership.

Iran condemned the strikes as an act of war and vowed retaliation. The country responded by launching missiles and drones at Israel and at U.S. military bases and allied targets across the Middle East, while air defence systems in several Gulf countries were activated.