The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, targeting its top leaders and calling for the overthrow of the country’s government, while Iran responded with missiles fired at Israel and neighboring Gulf states. Iran’s Al-Alam TV said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – not yet heard from as of Saturday night – was due to give a speech soon. The statement came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were "many characters" Khamenei was dead. The United States believes Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and five to 10 top Iranian leaders were killed in an initial Israeli strike, a Fox News reporter said Saturday, citing a U.S. official. Iranian authorities urged residents to evacuate the capital, a city of 10 million, while the country’s Red Crescent Society said at least 201 people had been killed in the strikes and more than 700 injured. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said a first wave of retaliatory missile and drone strikes had been launched against Israel and US installations in the region. President Donald Trump, who in the biggest foreign policy venture of his presidency launched the war against an enemy Washington has fought for generations, said the strikes were aimed at ending a security threat and ensuring Iran could not develop a nuclear weapon. He called on Iranian security forces to lay down their weapons and invited Iranians to overthrow their government once the bombing ended. Tehran called the strikes unprovoked and illegal and said it considers all US and Israeli bases, facilities and assets in the region to be "legitimate military objectives". Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told the UN Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a letter urging the 15-member council to "take immediate action in response to this breach of international peace and security". Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates reported one civilian dead and injured from missiles in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as blasts from Tehran’s retaliatory salvo and air defenses intercepting it also reverberated across Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait.
"This morning, in a powerful surprise attack, the compound of the tyrant Ali Khamenei was destroyed in the heart of Tehran… and there are many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive," Netanyahu said this in a TV broadcast. Cheers could be heard on the streets of Tehran after reports of the death, according to witnesses. Plumes of black smoke had been seen over Tehran’s Pasteur district, where Khamenei usually lives, and Israel’s Channel 12 network reported that 30 bombs were dropped on the compound. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously told NBC News that Khamenei was alive "as far as i know"adds it "all senior officials are alive". Also asked about Khamenei’s health, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told the BBC he was "not in a position to confirm anything"but "the whole system, the whole nation is focused on defending (our) national integrity". In a sign that the fighting was far from over, Netanyahu said "thousands" of targets would be hit over the coming days, while Iran’s top security official vowed fierce retaliation. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had begun attacking targets at 1:15 AM ET (0615 GMT) "to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus"it said in a post on X. It said the targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
"After the initial wave of attacks by the US and partners, CENTCOM forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone strikes," CENTCOM said. Israel’s military said its pilots had hit hundreds of targets across Iran, including strategic defense systems already damaged in attacks last year. It said three places where leaders had met were hit simultaneously and several senior figures were killed. Following the US and Israeli attacks, Iran retaliated with attacks across the Middle East, targeting Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait – places with US military bases or US allies – and other areas. Explosions were reported in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. Bahrain said the service center of the US Fifth Fleet had come under a missile attack. Video footage from witnesses in Bahrain showed a thick plume of gray smoke rising from near the tiny island nation’s coastline as sirens wailed. At least half a dozen witnesses, including Reuters correspondents, heard loud booms in various parts of the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, a major oil producer and close US ally. Qatar said it had shot down all missiles aimed at the country, according to the state news agency. A Qatari official told AFP that defense systems intercepted an Iranian missile as warning sirens sounded across the Gulf state. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Qatar’s US-made Patriot interceptors shot down the missile. Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US military facility in the region. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said one person was killed by falling shrapnel after the Iranian missile attack. The United Arab Emirates said it was the target Saturday of what it described as a "open attack" involving Iranian ballistic missiles, adding that its air defense systems intercepted a number of them. The Ministry of Defense said debris fell in a residential area in Abu Dhabi, causing material damage and killing a person of Asian nationality. Authorities said the security situation was under control and all relevant agencies were monitoring developments round the clock. The ministry strongly condemned the attack and called it a "dangerous escalation" and one "cowardly act" which threatens civilian security and regional stability. It said the strike was a clear violation of UAE sovereignty and international law. UAE reserved "his full right to reply" and to take all necessary measures to protect its territory, people and national interests. It added that it was fully prepared to deal with any threats and that the safety of citizens, residents and visitors remained a top priority. The ministry urged the public to rely on official sources for information and avoid spreading rumours. In Israel, a series of explosions were heard and air raid sirens sounded over Jerusalem after Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran earlier in the day. The Israeli military had said it identified a barrage of missiles sent from Iran. Explosions were also heard near Iran’s Kharg Island. Iran exports about 90% of its crude via Kharg, sending it through the narrow Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reported explosions in Isfahan, Qom, Karaj and Kermanshah. Explosions were also heard in the northwestern city of Tabriz, according to the Fars news agency. Iran’s Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour are believed to have been killed in Israeli strikes, two sources familiar with Israel’s military operations and a regional source said. A source told Reuters that Iranian officials were the main target of the first wave of US-Israeli strikes. Iran’s senior officials are "in perfect health"including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and security chief Ali Larijani, the Fars news agency reported on Saturday.
"While Israeli sources have claimed to have targeted and succeeded in attacking the president and senior Iranian leaders, official sources in the country report that senior regime officials, including the heads of the armed forces, are in perfect health," the report said. The attacks come as talks between Washington and Tehran on Iran’s nuclear program had been underway under Oman’s mediation. A new round of negotiations in Geneva ended on Thursday. The joint strikes pushed the Middle East into renewed military confrontation and further dampened hopes for a diplomatic solution to the West’s long-standing efforts to denuclearize Iran, despite Tehran’s repeated claims that it will not pursue nuclear weapons. Israeli defense officials say this operation was planned months ago, with the launch date decided weeks before. They added that this attack was coordinated with the United States and that the United States planned it "several days of attack" against Iran.
