The United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran early Saturday morning, targeting multiple military and nuclear sites. According to U.S. Central Command, more than 1,250 targets were struck in the first two days of what has been dubbed "Operation Epic Fury."
Key Takeaways
The U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, targeting military and nuclear sites. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in one of the initial strikes. The attacks have led to retaliatory actions by Iran, including missile strikes on Israel and U.S. allies in the Middle East.
- U.S.-Israel strikes target multiple Iranian military and nuclear sites
- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed in initial strikes
- Iran launches retaliatory missile strikes on Israel and U.S. allies
- Global shipping disrupted, airspace closures across the region
- Trump urges Iranians to take over their government
The strikes focused on Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command facilities, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields. Satellite images captured by Vantor show damage to key locations including the Choqa Balk-e drone facility, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's compound, the Natanz nuclear complex, and a radar system at Zahedan airbase.
Among those killed in the initial strikes was Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to reports from CBS News, Khamenei had been tracked by the CIA for months before being targeted during a meeting at his compound in Tehran. The Israeli military also confirmed that several top Iranian security officials were killed, including Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour.
In response to the strikes, Iran launched a wave of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. military installations across the Middle East. According to Sky News, retaliatory strikes hit multiple countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE reported that 165 ballistic missiles were launched by Iran, with 152 intercepted and 13 falling into the sea. Additionally, 541 bomb-carrying drones were deployed, of which 506 were destroyed.
The retaliatory attacks have resulted in civilian casualties across the region. In Israel, at least nine people were killed after a synagogue was hit in Beit Shemesh, with another 28 wounded. The UAE reported three deaths and injuries from intercepted missile debris. Kuwait's health ministry confirmed one death and 20 injuries due to Iranian strikes.
Global shipping has been disrupted as companies suspend traffic through the Suez Canal. Airspace closures across Israel, Iran, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, and Bahrain have left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded. Analysts warn that if Iran moves to block the Strait of Hormuz—a critical trading route for global oil—the economic fallout could be severe.
President Donald Trump described the attacks as necessary to neutralize imminent threats from Iran and enable Iranian citizens to challenge their leadership. In a video statement, he urged Iranians to "take over" their government once combat operations are completed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the goal of the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes is to remove the existential threat posed by the Iranian regime.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council advised residents in Tehran to consider leaving the city for their safety, and authorities converted a major highway into a one-way route to manage heavy traffic. The IRGC called on tens of thousands of reservists to reinforce land borders while police urged avoiding non-essential travel.
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