The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, targeting its top leaders and calling for the overthrow of its government, while Iran responded with missiles fired at Israel and neighboring Gulf countries. Iranian Al-Alam television said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had not yet been heard from Saturday night, was due to give a speech soon. The statement came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had "many signs" Khamenei was dead. The United States believes that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and between five and 10 senior Iranian leaders were killed in an initial Israeli strike, a Fox News journalist 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 said at least 201 people had been killed in the attacks and more than 700 wounded. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said a first wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks had been launched against Israel and US facilities in the region. President Donald Trump, who in the biggest foreign policy gamble of his presidency launched 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 arms and invited Iranians to overthrow their government once the bombing ended. Tehran called the attacks illegal and unprovoked 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 calling on the 15-member Council to "take immediate action in response to this violation of international peace and security". Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates reported one civilian death and missile damage in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, while explosions from Tehran’s retaliatory salvo and the air defenses that intercepted it also echoed in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait.
"This morning, in a powerful surprise attack, tyrant Ali Khamenei’s compound was destroyed in the heart of Tehran… and there are many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive," Netanyahu said in a televised statement. According to witnesses, cheers were heard in the streets of Tehran following reports of the death. Plumes of black smoke had been seen over Tehran’s Pasteur district, where Khamenei usually resides, 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"adding that "all high-ranking officials are alive". Also asked about Khamenei’s health, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told the BBC that he was "I am not in a position to confirm anything."but "The entire system, the entire nation is focused on defending (our) national integrity.". In a sign that the fighting was far from over, Netanyahu said "thousands" Several targets would be attacked in the coming days, while Iran’s top security official promised fierce retaliation. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had begun attacking targets at 1:15 a.m. ET (0615 GMT). "Dismantle the security apparatus of the Iranian regime."he said in a post on X. He said the targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.
"Following the initial wave of attacks from the United States and its partners, CENTCOM forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks." CENTCOM said. Israel’s military said its pilots had hit hundreds of targets across Iran, including strategic defense systems that had already been damaged in attacks last year. He said three places where the leaders had met were attacked simultaneously and several senior figures were killed. Following the attacks by the United States and Israel, Iran retaliated with attacks throughout the Middle East, targeting Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait (locations with US or US-allied military bases) and other areas. Explosions were reported in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. Bahrain said the US Fifth Fleet service center had been targeted by a missile attack. Video footage from witnesses in Bahrain showed thick gray smoke rising near the coast of the small island state as sirens blared. At least half a dozen witnesses, including Reuters correspondents, heard loud bangs in various parts of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, a major oil producer and close ally of the United States. 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, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Qatar’s American-made Patriot interceptors shot down the missile. Qatar is home to the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US military installation in the region. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said one person was killed by falling shrapnel following the Iranian missile attack. The United Arab Emirates said they were attacked on Saturday by what they described as a "blatant attack" involving Iranian ballistic missiles, adding that its air defense systems intercepted several of them. The Defense Ministry said debris fell in a residential area of Abu Dhabi, causing property damage and killing one person of Asian nationality. Authorities said the security situation was under control and all relevant agencies were monitoring developments around the clock. The ministry strongly condemned the attack, calling it a "dangerous climbing" and a "cowardly act" that threatens civil security and regional stability. He said the attack was a clear violation of UAE sovereignty and international law. The United Arab Emirates reserves "your full right to respond" and take all necessary measures to protect its territory, its people and its national interests. It added that it was fully prepared to deal with any threat 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 rumors. In Israel, a series of explosions were heard and air raid sirens sounded over Jerusalem after Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on Iran earlier that day. The Israeli military had said it had identified a barrage of missiles launched from Iran. Explosions were also heard near Iran’s Kharg Island. Iran exports about 90% of its crude oil through Kharg, shipping it through the 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 Guard 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 attacks. Iran’s top officials are "in perfect health"among them 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 attacked the president and senior Iranian leaders and succeeded, official sources inside 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 over Iran’s nuclear program were ongoing under Oman’s mediation. A new round of talks ended on Thursday in Geneva. The joint attacks pushed the Middle East into renewed military confrontation and further dimmed hopes for a diplomatic solution to the West’s long-standing effort to denuclearize Iran, despite Tehran’s repeated assurances that it will not pursue nuclear weapons. Israeli defense officials say this operation was planned months ago and the launch date was decided a few weeks earlier. They added that this attack was coordinated with the United States, and the United States has planned "several days of attacks" against Iran.
