US and Israel kill Khamenei in sweeping strikes on Iran

13:04

By: Dakir Madiha

US and Israel kill Khamenei in sweeping strikes on Iran

The United States and Israel launched a coordinated air campaign against Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and struck hundreds of political and military targets across the country, marking a dramatic escalation in Middle East tensions.

Iranian state media and officials confirmed that Khamenei, 86, died after airstrikes hit his compound in Tehran’s Pasteur district, home to the supreme leader’s offices and key state institutions. Authorities declared a forty-day mourning period and said an interim leadership council had taken over his formal powers as the clerical establishment began managing the succession process.

The assault began after sunrise on 28 February, with US cruise missiles and drones operating alongside Israeli fighter jets. Strikes targeted Tehran and at least a dozen provinces, including Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Lorestan, Khorramabad and Isfahan. American and Israeli officials said hundreds of sites linked to Iran’s political leadership, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the country’s air defense network were hit in the opening hours. One US official put the number of strikes at nearly 900.

Satellite images and local footage showed extensive destruction in central Tehran. Analysts said the compound associated with Khamenei’s office was reduced to rubble. Emergency crews worked through smoke and debris in the Pasteur area as reports of civilian casualties emerged, though precise figures remained unclear amid severe internet restrictions.

President Donald Trump described the operation as an effort to dismantle the Islamic Republic’s leadership and counter what Washington calls a long-term nuclear and regional threat. US officials said the campaign, named Operation Epic Fury, targeted senior military commanders and political figures in addition to strategic infrastructure. Israeli leaders, referring to their role as Operation Lion’s Roar, said the objective was to cripple the core of Iran’s governing system rather than conduct a limited deterrent strike. Analysts said the scale of the offensive signaled a shift from pressure tactics to overt regime change aims.

Tehran responded within hours. Iranian military officials said they launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel and at US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. They cited the use of Emad and Ghadr missile systems. Israeli authorities reported that at least two Iranian ballistic missiles struck near Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak, killing at least one person and injuring others, while air defenses intercepted many incoming projectiles.

Gulf states, including the UAE and Qatar, said they intercepted large numbers of drones and missiles, though some damage and casualties were confirmed. Iranian leaders warned that retaliation would continue until US and Israeli forces were defeated, raising fears that the confrontation could expand into a broader regional war.

The killing of Khamenei also activated Iran’s regional allies. Hezbollah launched missiles and drones at Israel from Lebanon, prompting Israeli strikes in southern Beirut and other areas linked to the group. Iraqi militias aligned with Tehran targeted US facilities near Baghdad and Erbil. Governments across the region warned of further instability as diplomatic channels remained largely frozen and the leadership transition in Tehran unfolded.

With both sides signaling readiness for continued operations, international observers said the conflict could reshape the Middle East security order, depending on whether it remains an air campaign and proxy confrontation or escalates into direct, large-scale warfare.