loading . . . Khamenei killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran; Tehran launches retaliation as region braces for escalation Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, killed in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that targeted his office in central Tehran on Saturday morning, Iranian state media confirmed late on Saturday.
The 86-year-old leader, who ruled Iran with an iron fist for 36 years, “drank the sweet, pure drought of martyrdom,” a tearful state television anchor announced in Farsi, triggering 40 days of national mourning.
The strikes, described by U.S. President Donald Trump as a “high risk, high reward” operation, mark the most ambitious U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran in decades. Israeli officials confirmed Khamenei was among those killed, while Trump posted on Truth Social: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead.” He hailed the operation as Iran’s “greatest chance… to take back their country” and warned that “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue uninterrupted.
Explosions rocked Tehran early Saturday, with residents fleeing in panic as waves of strikes hit ballistic missile sites, air defences and Revolutionary Guard facilities. Reuters witnesses and state media reported multiple blasts, including one that pulverized Khamenei’s compound while he was carrying out duties at his office. The Revolutionary Guard commander, Mohammed Pakpour, was also killed, along with reports of other senior figures.
Iran’s retaliation was swift. State media said Iranian missiles struck Tel Aviv, killing at least one person, with blazes visible across the city. The Revolutionary Guards vowed the “most intense” offensive yet against Israel and U.S. bases would begin “in moments,” firing at targets in at least seven countries, including Gulf states hosting American forces.
Explosions were also reported in oil-producing Gulf Arab nations, disrupting air travel and raising fears of wider economic fallout. According to Iranian Revolutionary Guard statements cited by semi-official agencies like Fars and Tasnim, strikes hit key sites including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Additional reports indicated missile and drone attacks on bases in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Gulf states confirmed intercepts of incoming Iranian missiles and drones, with explosions shaking cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, and Manama. One death was reported in the UAE from related incidents, per state media, while residents rushed to shelters amid air defence activations. Bahrain reported smoke rising near the Fifth Fleet base, and Qatar stated all missiles targeting its territory were downed. These attacks disrupted air travel, with airlines suspending flights and airspace closures across the region, raising concerns over oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation followed weeks of tension. Trump had threatened intervention amid stalled nuclear talks and Iranian protests. A CIA assessment two weeks earlier had warned that Khamenei’s death could lead to hardline Revolutionary Guard successors. Opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, son of the last shah, published a Washington Post op-ed thanking Trump and outlining a post-regime transition: a new constitution by referendum and free elections under international oversight.
Iranian-Americans celebrated in cities like Los Angeles and Vienna, Virginia, with some shouting “We are free!” Inside Iran, mourning mixed with uncertainty. State media broadcast Khamenei’s obituary, highlighting his hostility to the U.S. and Israel and his vow in January not to “yield to the enemy.”
The death of the Islamic Republic’s second supreme leader has created a power vacuum. The Guards, who answer directly to the leader, mourned him as “a great leader… unique in terms of purity of spirit” and are expected to play a decisive role in any succession.
International reactions poured in rapidly. At an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting on Saturday, Russia’s envoy Vasily Nebenzya accused the U.S. and Israel of stabbing Iran “in the back” during negotiations, while China echoed criticism of the strikes. Trump’s gamble has raised fears of regional chaos and higher oil prices.
The European Union and its member countries expressed deep concern over the escalation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa issued a joint statement describing the developments as “greatly concerning,” urging all parties to exercise “maximum restraint,” protect civilians and respect international law. In a coordinated move, the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemned Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks “in the strongest terms” and called for renewed U.S.-Iran negotiations to restore regional stability.
French President Macron separately described the strikes as an “outbreak of war” with “serious consequences for international peace and security” and demanded an urgent UN Security Council session. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted that British forces were “active” in coordinated defensive operations across the region.
Spain, however, took a stronger stance against the initiating strikes, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez openly condemning the “unilateral military action of the United States and Israel,” which he said “represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order.” Sánchez called for immediate de-escalation, full respect for international law, and a return to dialogue, while also rejecting actions by the Iranian regime and its Revolutionary Guard.
European capitals have also quietly reviewed aviation safety measures, with earlier EU advisories already urging airlines to avoid Iranian airspace.
The strikes have rattled global markets and prompted precautionary steps in the Gulf. Qatar called for a temporary suspension of maritime navigation, while Saudi Arabia denounced what it called “Iranian aggression” against neighboring states.
As Iran declares 40 days of mourning, analysts warn of a dangerous new phase. The Revolutionary Guards’ threat of further escalation looms large, while Trump’s administration bets that decapitating the leadership will open the door to regime change without prolonged U.S. ground involvement.
With Khamenei’s death confirmed and retaliation underway, the Middle East stands on a knife-edge.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: Mourners react following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; at Enqelab Square in Tehran, Iran, 1 March 2026. According to a statement from Iranian state media issued on 01 March 2026, Khamenei was killed in an airstrike during a joint United States (US) and Israeli military campaign that began on 28 February 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH https://eualive.net/khamenei-killed-in-us-israeli-strikes-on-iran-tehran-launches-retaliation-as-region-braces-for-escalation/
