Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed in Saturday airstrikes, Iran International can confirm.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned vessels not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian missile strikes continue to hit its Arab neighbors.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, was killed during Saturday’s attacks. Several IRGC commanders were also killed in the strikes, according to Reuters.
Iran launched missile attacks toward Israel and across Persian Gulf states, with Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar reporting interceptions; one person was killed in Abu Dhabi.
The Pentagon named its mission “Operation Epic Fury,” while Israel dubbed its campaign “Lion’s Roar” and called up thousands of reservists.
Blasts were reported in Tehran, Tabriz, Qom, Karaj, Khorramabad, Kermanshah, Ilam and other cities. Iran’s Supreme Leader’s office in Tehran was targeted, and Iran closed its airspace for six hours.
IRGC says ‘most devastating’ offensive imminent
Iran’s IRGC says it is launching what it called “the most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic”, according to a statement published by the semi-official Fars news agency.
The offensive will begin “in just moments” and target the “occupied territories and American terrorist bases” across the region, the statement said.
US-Iran strikes disrupt global travel as airlines cancel flights
Major airports across the Middle East were shut Saturday after US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s missile retaliation triggered major disruption to global aviation, Reuters reported.
Dubai International Airport—the world’s busiest hub for international travel—was closed after sustaining damage during overnight Iranian attacks, while Abu Dhabi and Kuwait airports were also hit.
Airspace closures across the region left skies over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain largely empty as airlines cancelled or rerouted flights
Tehran confirms death of supreme leader Ali Khamenei
Iran’s state broadcaster confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei early hours Sunday local time, hours after US and Israel said he had been killed in they airstrikes Saturday.
Shortly afterward, the Iranian cabinet announced seven days of public holiday and 40 days of national mourning.
Exiled prince Pahlavi says Iran nears 'liberation' after Khamenei
Iran’s exiled prince Reza Pahlavi has welcomed US and Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saying the moment could mark a turning point in Iran’s long struggle against the Islamic Republic.
Writing in an op-ed for The Washington Post, Pahlavi thanked President Donald Trump for supporting the Iranian people and said the final outcome will depend on Iranians themselves.
“Even with U.S. and Israeli assistance, the final victory will be forged by the Iranian people,” he wrote, arguing that a democratic Iran could transform the Middle East.
Trump says he knows who calls the shots in Iran after Khamenei’s killing
President Donald Trump said he knows who is effectively “calling the shots” in Iran after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s killing in US and Israeli strikes, but declined to reveal the name.
“I know exactly who, but I can’t tell you,” Trump told CBS News in a phone interview Saturday.
Asked whether there was someone he would like to see lead Iran, he replied: “Yes, I think so. There are some good candidates.”
US launched ‘most lethal’ aerial operation against Iran, Hegseth says
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States launched “Operation Epic Fury,” which he described as the “most lethal, most complex, and most-precision aerial operation in history,” carried out overnight on the orders of Donald Trump.
Hegseth said on X that the US aimed to destroy Iran’s missile program.
"The United States did not start this conflict, but we will finish it. If you kill or threaten Americans anywhere in the world — as Iran has — then we will hunt you down, and we will kill you," he said.
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Iran declares 40 days of mourning for Khamenei as US-Israel strikes continue
The opening salvo
And just like that, we’re at war again.
The strikes were billed as Israeli “preemptive action”. The first wave hit Khamenei’s compound, the Ministry of Intelligence, the Ministry of Defense, the Atomic Energy Agency, the presidential palace, Parchin. Two waves, rapid succession. A decapitation attempt dressed up in the usual vocabulary – precision, surgical, necessary.
What followed was anything but.
The Iranian Defense Minister and IRGC commander Pakpour were confirmed killed. The Head of the Judiciary too. As for Khamenei himself – at the time of writing, nobody actually knows. Israeli media put the odds of him having survived at “slim to none”. An hour later, Iranian state TV announced he would “speak within minutes”. That was hours ago. He still hasn’t appeared. His Foreign Minister, when asked directly, said “he’s alive as far as I know”. Not exactly the confident “the Supreme Leader is in good health” you’d expect from a functioning government.
So either Khamenei is dead and they’re managing the information, or he’s in a bunker somewhere with limited communications. Neither is great for the “this will all be over in four days” thesis.
Worth noting: Iran’s internet was cut early on. Cyber attacks hit IRNA and other state media outlets in the opening hours. The regime went dark on communications almost immediately – which tells you they expected this and had protocols for it, but also means any information coming out of Tehran right now needs to be treated with serious skepticism.
Another thing that was noteworthy: Iran’s response was fast. Remarkablyfast – coordinated strikes on US bases across seven countries within hours. Either they’re extraordinarily well-prepared – which they probably were – or they had some advance warning. China operates reconnaissance satellites that probably tracked the strike packages forming up over Israel and the Mediterranean. Beijing and Tehran share intelligence. Add to that the number of countries whose airspace US and Israeli aircraft transited, the communications that would have involved, and the known history of intelligence penetration in this region, and I wouldn’t rule out that Iran had foreknowledge of the timeline. Someone, somewhere, may have talked.
What’s not in doubt is the scale and speed of what came back.
Within hours, ballistic missiles were in the air. Not a trickle. Wave after wave after wave – at Israel, at Bahrain, at Qatar, at Kuwait, at the UAE, at Saudi Arabia, at Jordan, at Iraq. An Iranian parliamentary official put it succinctly: “We set fire to US bases in seven countries – and that was only a warm-up”.
DEVELOPING: Dubai’s Iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel on Fire After Being Struck by Iranian Drone (VIDEO)
The US and Israel conducted military strikes on Iran on Saturday morning.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the military strikes.
Iran launched retaliatory strikes toward Israel and Dubai.
Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab was hit by an Iranian drone. Additional Iranian drones were intercepted near Dubai’s iconic skyscraper Burj Khalifa.
“Internationally acclaimed for its visionary architecture, Jumeirah Burj Al Arab defines Jumeirah’s exclusive Jumeirah Icons Collection – a celebration of properties renowned for their design, prestige, and extraordinary guest experiences. Behind its sail-like facade lies a collection of elegant suites, acclaimed dining, including Michelin-starred Al Muntaha, an award winning spa, and the stylish Sal beach club with infinite views of the Arabian gulf,” the hotel says on its website.
“Properties in the Jumeirah Icons Collection represent the most elite and exclusive hospitality experience available. Globally recognised properties in renowned locations, intentionally selected for their significance architecturally, historically, or environmentally,” the hotel says.
The Dubai Media Office said a drone was intercepted and shrapnel caused a ‘limited fire’ on the exterior of the hotel.
“The competent authorities in Dubai announced that a drone had been intercepted, and its shrapnel caused a limited fire on the exterior facade of the Burj Al Arab Hotel, and civil defense teams were able to control the incident without any injuries occurring,” they said.
In a follow up post, the Dubai Media Office said the debris caused a fire at the bottom of the structure.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is Confirmed DEAD – Israeli Officials Say His Body Has Been Found
Israeli officials have reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead after the US and Israel’s strikes on Iranian targets.
This comes after reports suggested that the Ayatollah fled Tehran and was moved to a secure location during the strikes.
Per the BBC, Netanyahu said earlier there were “growing signs” that Khamenei is “gone.”
Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst reported on Netanyahu’s comments earlier with updates on the ongoing campaign in Iran. “The Israelis say they are still striking targets inside Iran,” Yingst reported.
An Israeli official confirmed to Axios that Khamenei is dead, according to Israeli intelligence.
Why it matters: The 86-year-old Khamenei led Iran for 35 years, making him one of the world’s longest-serving authoritarian rulers. His death is a massive blow to the regime and could accelerate its collapse, which U.S. and Israeli officials have stated as their explicit goal.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards tell ships passage through Strait of Hormuz ‘not allowed’
An official from the European Union’s naval mission Aspides says that vessels have been receiving VHF transmission from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards saying “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz.”
The strait is the world’s most vital oil export route, which connects the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
The official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, says Iran had not formally confirmed any such order. Tehran has for years threatened to block the narrow waterway in retaliation for any attack on the Islamic Republic.
Iran fires missiles at US bases across Middle East after American strikes on nuclear, IRGC sites
Iran launched missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. military facilities in multiple Middle Eastern countries Friday, retaliating after coordinated U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear-linked sites.
Explosions were reported in or near areas hosting American forces in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan, according to regional officials and state media accounts. Several of those governments said their air defense systems intercepted incoming projectiles.
It remains unclear whether any U.S. service members were killed or injured, and the extent of potential damage to American facilities has not yet been confirmed. U.S. officials have not publicly released casualty figures or formal damage assessments.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the operation as a direct response to what Tehran called "aggression" against Iranian territory earlier in the day. Iranian officials claimed they targeted U.S. military infrastructure and command facilities.
The United States military earlier carried out strikes against what officials described as high-value Iranian targets, including IRGC facilities, naval assets and underground sites believed to be associated with Iran’s nuclear program. One U.S. official told Fox News that American forces had "suppressed" Iranian air defenses in the initial wave of strikes.
Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the opening phase of the U.S. operation, according to a U.S. official. The campaign was described as a multi-geographic operation designed to overwhelm Iran’s defensive capabilities and could continue for multiple days. Officials also indicated the U.S. employed one-way attack drones in combat for the first time.
Iran’s retaliatory barrage targeted countries that host American forces, including Bahrain — home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet — as well as Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base and the UAE’s Al Dhafra Air Base. Authorities in those nations reported intercepting many of the incoming missiles. At least one civilian was killed in the UAE by falling debris, according to local authorities.
Iranian officials characterized their response as proportionate and warned of additional action if strikes continue. A senior U.S. official described the Iranian retaliation as "ineffective," though independent assessments of the overall impact are still developing
Regional governments condemned the strikes on their territory as violations of sovereignty, raising the risk that additional countries could become directly involved if escalation continues.
The situation remains fluid, with military and diplomatic channels active across the region. Pentagon officials are expected to provide further updates as damage assessments and casualty reviews are completed.
UN calls emergency Security Council meeting after strikes on Iran
The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes by Tehran.
The session, due to start at 4 p.m. (2100 GMT), will address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations said. The meeting was urged by France and Bahrain, according to the Israeli delegation to the world body.
Sirens Sound Across Israel Amid Iranian Ballistic Missile Attacks
“You are in proximity to weapons and facilities that are dangerous,” the IDF wrote in a statement.
“For the sake of your safety and health, we kindly request that you immediately evacuate these areas and remain outside them until a new announcement is issued,” they continued. “Your presence in these locations puts your life at risk.”
Israel’s Sheba Medical Center says it is moving patients and services underground into protected areas as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran.
“As of this morning, Sheba Medical Center has switched to advanced preparedness mode in preparation for the strike in Iran,” says Prof.Itai Pessach, Deputy Director General, Sheba Medical Center. “We are in the process of moving all our Department of Services into protected areas.”
“However, all the medical services continue as usual, and we provide the care needed for citizens and people here in Israel,” says Pessach.
Reza Pahlavi, a leader of the Iranian opposition in exile, on Saturday called the joint Israeli-U.S. military strikes in Iran a “humanitarian intervention” that offered Iranians a chance to “reclaim” their country.
“The aid that the President of the United States promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived,” Pahlavi said in a video message he posted on X shortly after the launch of “Operation Lion’s Roar,” the name Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used on Sunday to refer to his country’s actions in Iran. Pahlavi did not mention Israel in his speech.
Smoke was seen billowing above Bahrain’s Juffair area, housing a US Navy base, witnesses told Reuters on Saturday morning.
The US Embassy in Bahrain urged citizens to shelter in place while citing media reports of threats of missiles and drones over Bahraini airspace.
The Bahraini Interior Ministry later confirmed that a warning alarm siren had been activated, with citizens and residents requested to head to the nearest safe place.
A source living in Manama, Bahrain, confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that blasts were heard in the area.
Bahrain hosts the US Central Command’s 5th Fleet.
Times Liveblogging: Israeli strikes target Khamenei, Pezeshkian as Netanyahu says Israel, US intend to ‘remove existential threat’ posed by Iran
Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, reports that officials converted a key highway linking the capital to northern Iran into a one-way route to accommodate the heavy outbound traffic.
The agency reports heavy traffic heading north out of the capital.
Iran’s top national security body had earlier told residents they should consider leaving Tehran for their safety.
In northern Tehran, supermarkets are seeing a surge of customers seeking bread and bottled water. However, supply has been limited, and some of the items most in demand — including bread, eggs, bottled water and milk — are currently unavailable in certain stores.
Long queues have also been observed at gas stations across the city.
State television shows footage from one of Tehran’s highways, Soleimani highway, where extremely heavy traffic was visible on west-to-east routes.
IDF says it completed wave of strikes targeting strategic Iranian air defenses
The IDF says it has completed an extensive wave of airstrikes targeting “strategic” Iranian air defense systems.
One of the targets was an “advanced SA-65 air defense system” deployed in the Kermanshah area, according to the military.
“The IDF continues at this time to strike infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in order to cause a blow to the regime and thwart threats to the Israeli home front,” the military adds.
More explosions heard in Abu Dhabi, Manama, Doha
Residents and AFP correspondents in the Emirati, Qatari and Bahraini capitals hear more explosions, as Iran launches waves of retaliatory strikes in the Gulf following US and Israeli attacks.
An AFP correspondent in Manama heard at least two blasts, with journalists in Qatar reporting a new wave of explosions. Residents in Abu Dhabi also heard explosions.
Two witnesses tell AFP they saw smoke rising from Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra base, which hosts US troops.
IRGC chief, defense minister killed in opening strikes sources say
Iranian FM slams ‘illegal’ strikes, says Trump acting in Israel’s interests
Sirens sound in central Israel, IDF working to intercept missiles
Israeli TV report, citing unnamed Israeli sources: Growing indications that Khamenei killed
Israeli TV report, citing unnamed Israeli sources: Growing indications that Khamenei killed
Israel “assesses” that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was likely killed in an Israeli strike earlier today, Channel 12 says, citing unnamed Israeli sources. It says there are “growing indications” to this effect.
There is no official confirmation of the report.
The TV station had minutes earlier said the Israeli assessment was that Khamenei was “hurt at the very least, ” and that this was not an assessment based on satellite imagery showing Khamenei’s presidential compound being flattened, but rather on information from unnamed sources.
Khamenei is reportedly expected to deliver an address shortly. The TV report suggests that, if so, it was recorded in advance.
Channel 12 also reports that the strikes today have caused “very significant harm” to the leadership of the Iranian regime and its military commanders.
Israel’s Kan state TV says “there is no contact” with Khamenei and his condition is not known.