What We Know About the US-Israel Strikes on Iran and Tehran’s response

What We Know About the United States-Israel Strikes on Iran — and Tehran’s Response

Iran’s Supreme Leader Killed

The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has escalated dramatically following coordinated strikes that have now reshaped the political landscape inside Iran and triggered unprecedented retaliation across the region.

Here is where things stand.

Iranian state media has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the US-Israeli bombardment.

Donald Trump described the operation as a “massive and ongoing” campaign and indicated it would continue with heavy bombing throughout the week. He has openly framed the military action as aimed at overturning Tehran’s government, calling for regime change following the strikes.

Khamenei’s death marks an extraordinary turning point in Iran’s modern history and dramatically raises the stakes for the region.

What the Strikes Targeted

U.S. and Israeli officials said the operation focused on Iran’s ballistic missile systems, launchers and elements of its broader military infrastructure.

Video verified by CNN showed smoke rising from the capital, Tehran. Iranian state media also reported strikes in Isfahan, Qom, Karaj and Kermanshah.

One of the deadliest reported incidents occurred in the southern city of Minab, where a strike hit the Shajaba Tayyiba School. The death toll at the girls’ school has risen to 118, according to Iranian state media.

CNN geolocated video from the scene and reported the school sits roughly 200 feet from an Iranian military base. Satellite imagery shows the school and base have been physically separated since at least 2016, though the site had previously appeared to be part of the military compound.

Iran’s ‘Crushing’ and Unprecedented Response

Following Khamenei’s death, Iran threatened what it called the most ferocious offensive in its history.

Tehran has already launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. military bases, Israel and additional targets across the Middle East. The attacks have shaken densely populated areas and disrupted regional air travel and oil shipments.

Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency, closing airspace and limiting activity to essential services in anticipation of further missile and drone attacks.

Diplomacy Collapses Into Military Action

The operation follows stalled diplomatic efforts, including indirect talks in Geneva this week over Iran’s nuclear program.

Trump said Iran had been rebuilding its nuclear capabilities after previous U.S. strikes in June and accused Tehran of rejecting opportunities to curb its nuclear ambitions. He has repeatedly demanded that Iran halt all uranium enrichment and has hinted at regime change, though he has not clearly outlined the long-term strategic objective of the current campaign.

Growing Risk of Wider Conflict

The U.S. military had been building up air and naval forces in the region for weeks in preparation for possible action. At the same time, satellite imagery indicated Iran had been fortifying key nuclear facilities.

Senior U.S. military officials, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, have reportedly warned about the risks of a prolonged and complex conflict, including the possibility of American casualties.

With strikes underway and Iran signaling retaliation, the confrontation now risks spiraling beyond its initial military objectives.

A Region on Edge

The escalation has sent shockwaves through the Gulf. The United Arab Emirates described the moment as “historic,” saying global leaders had failed to guarantee regional stability.

The United States had been massing air and naval assets in the region for weeks while indirect nuclear negotiations were underway. Iran, meanwhile, had been fortifying key nuclear facilities, according to satellite imagery.

With Iran’s supreme leader dead, regime change openly discussed by Washington, and retaliation already spreading across multiple fronts, the confrontation now risks expanding into a far broader regional war with unpredictable consequences.

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