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Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes on Sunday, targeting Israel and U.S. military bases across the region, according to state media, in retaliation for a major attack that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iranian state television said 27 U.S. bases, along with Israel’s military headquarters and a defence industries complex in Tel Aviv, were among the targets.
In a statement carried by state TV, Iran’s military said:
“A few minutes ago, pilots of the air forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran successfully bombed U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf countries and in the Kurdistan region of Iraq in several phases of operations.”
Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was reportedly killed in the opening phase of a large-scale joint U.S.–Israeli attack. Iranian state television confirmed his death early Sunday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the killing of the 86-year-old cleric, describing him as “one of the most evil people in history.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vowed to launch what they described as the “most ferocious” operation in history against Israel and U.S. targets across the Gulf.
Explosions were reported in Doha, Dubai, and Manama, while warning sirens sounded across central Israel as the military responded to incoming missiles.
U.S. President Trump warned that any further retaliation by Tehran would be met with unprecedented force.
“This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country,” he said, urging security forces in Iran to stand down.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also called on Iranians to rise against their government, saying, “This is your time to join forces, overthrow the regime, and secure your future.”
In Tehran, mixed reactions were reported. While some residents initially cheered early reports of Khamenei’s death, thousands later gathered in Enghelab Square, dressed in black and waving Iranian flags, chanting anti-U.S. slogans.
Casualties and Damage
Iran’s Red Crescent reported that at least 201 people were killed, with hundreds more injured following the initial strikes.
The judiciary also confirmed the deaths of senior officials, including Ali Shamkhani and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Pakpour.
In response, senior Iranian officials vowed retaliation. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the U.S. and Israel had “crossed red lines” and would “suffer the consequences.”
Missile strikes were also reported across parts of the Middle East. At least two people were killed in Abu Dhabi and one in Tel Aviv during earlier waves of attacks.
Rising Regional Tensions
Smoke was seen rising from areas including Jebel Ali port in Dubai, while residents across affected cities reported panic as blasts echoed through the night.
Iran also signalled a possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route, though it remained unclear whether the threat had been enforced.
Airspace closures were reported across multiple countries, including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE, and Israel, disrupting civilian air travel.
Leadership Uncertainty
Following Khamenei’s death, attention has turned to succession in Iran. State media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials would oversee a transitional leadership process.
Exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former monarch, described Khamenei’s death as the beginning of the end for the Islamic Republic, though analysts note that opposition support remains fragmented.
International Reactions
The scale of the conflict marks one of the most significant escalations in the region in decades, drawing comparisons to the 2003 Iraq war.
Diplomatic efforts had been ongoing prior to the strikes, with talks held in Geneva and mediation led by Oman, which had recently called for an immediate ceasefire.
Iran has since urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene, while tensions continue to rise across the Middle East.
