- Iran launches retaliatory attacks
- US Consulate in Karachi attacked
- Pope, UN, and world leaders call for restraint
The Middle East faces a perilous escalation after a coordinated US-Israel offensive on Iran, culminating in the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials. The attack began on 27 February, with air and missile strikes targeting Tehran’s leadership and military infrastructure.
Iranian state media confirmed early yesterday (1 March) that Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic since 1989, was killed alongside several senior figures, including commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). State reports also said Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild died in the strikes. International media reported that around 40 high-level officials were killed.
Other confirmed Iranian casualties include Aziz Nasirzadeh, Defence Minister; Ali Shamkhani, Head of Iranian Security Council; Mohammad Pakpour, IRGC Commander; Abdolrahim Mousavi, Armed Forces Chief of Staff; Saleh Asadi, Intelligence Official; Hossein Jabal Amelian and Reza Mozaffari-Nia, Research Officials; and Mohammed Shirazi, longtime defence liaison.
US President Donald Trump hailed Khamenei’s death as “one of the most evil people in history” removed, calling it a chance for Iranians to reclaim their country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Iranians to overthrow the regime, describing Khamenei as a tyrant who spread terror and sought Israel’s destruction. Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s late Shah, said Khamenei’s death marks the end of the Islamic Republic.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region, targeting Israel and US military bases. Explosions and air raid sirens were reported in Tel Aviv, Dubai, Doha, and Manama. In Israel, at least two people have been killed, including a woman in her 40s and 68-year-old Tel Aviv resident Marina Bleive, who suffocated on the way to a shelter. Over 120 others were wounded. More than 200 residents were evacuated, and 40 buildings were inspected, with minor damage reported.
Airspace closures in the UAE, Kuwait, and other Gulf countries grounded thousands of flights, one of the region’s most serious disruptions since the Covid-19 pandemic. At Dubai International Airport, debris from intercepted drones injured four staff members. At Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, falling debris killed one person and injured seven.
Iranian missile strikes also targeted strategic sites in Bahrain and Oman, injuring one worker at Duqm port and damaging infrastructure. The IRGC claimed attacks on the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama. In Dubai, debris from intercepted drones caused fires at the Fairmont The Palm hotel and minor damage to the Burj Al Arab.
In Tehran, some residents celebrated late Saturday night with fireworks, music, and cheers, while others mourned in Enghelab Square, chanting slogans and holding Khamenei portraits. State television announced a 40-day mourning period and seven public holidays. President Masoud Pezeshkian described the attacks as a “declaration of war against Muslims,” while the Revolutionary Guards vowed to punish those responsible.
Iran appointed Alireza Arafi, a Guardian Council cleric, to the temporary Leadership Council alongside President Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, overseeing Khamenei’s duties until a successor is chosen by the Assembly of Experts.
Global leaders expressed concern. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the killing as a “cynical” violation of international law. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Khamenei “will not be mourned,” citing his role in Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes. The United Nations called for restraint, warning of a wider regional conflict with humanitarian consequences.
Pope Leo XIV urged dialogue and restraint, warning of a “spiral of violence” and calling for peace. He prayed for victims of conflicts worldwide, including Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions and flooding in Brazil’s Minas Gerais.
In Karachi, Pakistan, six people were killed and several wounded when protesters clashed with police outside the US Consulate. An oil tanker near Oman’s Masandam coast was attacked, injuring four crew members. Iran’s strikes disrupted Gulf airspace and energy shipments, with US Navy ships and Israeli Air Force jets responding with additional strikes.
The Israeli Air Force conducted large-scale strikes in Tehran for the first time since the operation began, with videos showing smoke rising across multiple districts. Iranian former IRGC commander Moshen Rezaei warned that US warships would not be allowed into the Persian Gulf, despite an “armada” of US ships reportedly stationed in the region.
Agencies