DUBAI/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON, March 1 — Israel said it had launched another wave of strikes on Iran on Sunday, as Iranians faced uncertainty after the killing of their supreme leader in U.S. and Israeli attacks that threatened to destabilize the wider Middle East .
Khamenei Confirmed Dead
Hours after the United States and Israel said that an air strike killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as part of the most ambitious series of attacks on Iran in decades, Iranian state media confirmed the 86-year-old leader’s death on Saturday .
The death of Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, marks an unprecedented escalation in the conflict and creates a massive power vacuum in the Islamic Republic. Iranian media also reported the deaths of Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter in the strikes .
🇮🇱 Israel’s New Wave
On Sunday, Israel announced it had launched another wave of strikes against Iranian targets, signaling that the military campaign is continuing. The initial joint U.S.-Israeli operation involved approximately 200 Israeli fighter jets hitting targets in at least 24 of Iran’s 31 provinces .
🇺🇸 U.S. Response
President Donald Trump announced Khamenei’s death on his Truth Social platform, describing him as “one of the most evil people in History” . Trump vowed that “heavy and pinpoint bombing… will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week” and called on the Iranian people to “take back their Country” .
Iran’s Retaliation
Iran has launched waves of missiles and drones at Israel and U.S. military bases across the Middle East, with the IRGC declaring all U.S. military bases in the region as legitimate targets . The IRGC has also closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, threatening global oil supplies .
Regional Fallout
The conflict has caused widespread disruption, with multiple countries closing their airspace and airlines canceling flights. Casualties continue to mount, with the Iranian Red Crescent reporting at least 201 deaths and 747 injuries across Iran from the initial strikes .
