Israel-Iran War: Strikes, Khamenei Death & US Response – Live Updates
On Saturday morning, explosions rang out around Iran, with smoke rising over Tehran while sirens wailed over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israel had begun a military operation against Iran, with Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, announcing it as Operation Roar of the Lion. Israelis were told to brace for incoming Iranian missiles.
The US characterized the action as “massive and ongoing,” branding it Operation Epic Fury. President Donald Trump stated via social media that “This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces.”
Iranian state TV confirmed on Sunday that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader for nearly four decades, had been killed. Satellite imagery indicated widespread destruction of his residential compound.
What Was Targeted in the Strikes?
Initial reports indicated strikes in Tehran targeted areas around Pasteur Street, near the Presidential Administration of Iran. Iranian news agencies also reported explosions in other cities, including Isfahan – the site of a nuclear complex previously struck in 2025 – Kermanshah, home to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base, and Shiraz, where Israel has alleged Iran maintains an underground missile production facility.
The local judiciary reported 108 people were killed in a missile attack on a school in the city of Minab. Most of the reported strikes on Iran occurred before 1pm Tehran time, according to LiveUA data.
Trump stated Washington’s aim was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to dismantle its long-range missile capabilities. He also called on the Iranian people to “accept over your government” following the conclusion of the strikes.
Prior to the strikes on Iran, Israel’s northern command conducted several strikes in southern Lebanon, targeting what it described as Hizbollah infrastructure. Israel warned Hizbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese Shia militant group, against intervening on Iran’s behalf.
US Military Assets in the Region
The US maintains approximately 40,000 troops in the Middle East, deployed across bases and naval vessels. It has also amassed its largest naval force in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The USS Gerald R Ford, the US Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, was in the Mediterranean Sea this week, with sightings off Israel’s northern coast on Friday. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group was positioned off the coast of Oman earlier in the month. These strike groups include aircraft carriers and guided-missile destroyers equipped with a range of offensive and defensive weaponry.
The US has also deployed additional Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot air-defense systems. Both systems were utilized in the 2025 conflict and earlier engagements, reportedly depleting interceptor stockpiles.
The US operates eight permanent bases in the Middle East, located in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and has access to approximately a dozen additional military sites in countries including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar serves as the headquarters for US Central Command, overseeing military operations in the Middle East, and houses around 10,000 troops.
Iran’s Response and Potential Escalation
Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards force stated on Saturday that it had “hardly” hit US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as “military and security centres” in Israel. The force added that “Missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces will continue.”
Verified footage on social media showed a significant explosion at the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet base in Juffair, Bahrain, which serves as the headquarters for US naval operations in the Middle East. Qatar reported intercepting and neutralizing three waves of Iranian missile attacks, while Jordan intercepted two ballistic missiles.
Saudi Arabia stated that Iran had targeted its capital, Riyadh, and its oil-rich eastern province. Kuwait reported a drone strike on its international airport, causing limited damage. Israel declared a state of emergency, closing its airspace and restricting gatherings.
Iran has a substantial arsenal of missiles, including short-range ballistic and cruise missiles capable of targeting US bases and naval assets, in addition to long-range missiles able to reach Israel. During conflicts with Israel in 2024 and 2025, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones, with some penetrating Israel’s defenses and impacting or landing near sensitive military targets.
Potential escalation scenarios include mining the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for global energy supplies, or targeting energy infrastructure in the Gulf region. Iran could also direct allied militias to attack regional targets.
Implications for Global Oil Markets
Oil markets are expected to react when they reopen on Monday morning in Asia. Brent crude rose as much as 3 per cent on Friday, reaching a seven-month high of $73 a barrel. The benchmark has increased nearly 12 per cent in the past month amid concerns about potential supply disruptions.
Iran exports approximately 2 per cent of global oil supply, primarily to China. More significantly, it exerts influence over the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 30 per cent of the world’s seaborne oil trade passed in 2025. While the strait has not been closed despite previous threats, the surge in crude prices during past conflicts highlights market sensitivity to regional risks.