Iran retaliates with missiles and drones as leaders worldwide warn of wider war.
WASHINGTON, DC — The United States and Israel launched a sweeping wave of strikes across Iran on Saturday, targeting military and nuclear-linked sites and areas near the offices of Iran’s supreme leader, as Iran fired missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf and online speculation surged over whether Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed.
The attacks marked one of the most direct U.S. military actions inside Iran in decades and immediately raised the risk of a wider regional war, with air defenses activated across multiple countries, flights disrupted and officials bracing for retaliation that could reach beyond Iran and Israel. The uncertain status of Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly in recent days, added to the volatility, as governments and analysts weighed whether a leadership blow could prompt internal turmoil or a more forceful response by Iran’s security forces and allied militias.
President Donald Trump said the United States had begun what he called “major combat operations” alongside Israel, describing the strikes as aimed at Iran’s missile infrastructure, command nodes and facilities tied to its nuclear program. He said the operation was intended to protect Americans and U.S. forces in the region, while warning that U.S. casualties were possible if Iran expanded its response. Trump also appealed directly to Iranians to oppose their leaders, language that drew immediate criticism from some foreign governments and some U.S. lawmakers who warned it could deepen the conflict.
Explosions were reported in and around Tehran and in other Iranian cities as Iranian air defenses fired into the night. Iranian media described nationwide strikes and showed smoke rising from parts of the capital, while officials in neighboring countries issued emergency alerts as the situation shifted hour by hour. In Tehran, roads leading toward sensitive government areas were reported shut, and state-linked outlets accused the attackers of hitting civilian locations as well as military targets.
By midday, one of the biggest unanswered questions centered on Khamenei. Posts on X, formerly Twitter, claimed he had been killed, wounded or trapped, while other accounts said he had been moved before the strikes. Those claims could not be independently verified, and no Iranian state announcement confirmed his death. Major news organizations reported only that he was believed to have been taken to a secure location during earlier fighting and, on Saturday, that officials had moved him again as the first strikes hit areas near his offices.
Iran’s retaliation began within hours. Authorities and media in several countries reported Iranian missiles and drones aimed at Israel and at U.S. facilities in Gulf states, prompting temporary airspace restrictions and heightened security around bases and ports. In Israel, officials warned residents to prepare for additional incoming fire, and the country’s air defenses engaged what it described as multiple waves of threats. A strike-related death was reported in the United Arab Emirates, where officials attributed at least one fatality to falling debris, underscoring how quickly the conflict’s effects could spread.
Iran’s government condemned the strikes as unlawful aggression and said it would defend itself. Officials said the attacks came despite diplomatic contacts that had continued in recent weeks, and they signaled they would seek emergency action at the United Nations. Iran’s leaders also suggested that retaliation would not be limited to a single round, language that raised immediate fears for U.S. troops stationed across the region and for commercial shipping moving through the Persian Gulf.
One focal point for markets and military planners alike is the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow corridor through which a large share of the world’s seaborne oil passes. Even without an outright blockade, insurers can raise rates, shipping companies can reroute vessels, and regional ports can slow operations when missiles fly. Gulf governments, many of which host U.S. forces and critical energy infrastructure, were suddenly caught between protecting their territory and avoiding steps that could pull them deeper into a war they have long tried to contain.
As the day unfolded, credible information from inside Iran became harder to verify. Independent reporting in Iran is tightly restricted, and monitoring groups and media reports said connectivity appeared to be severely disrupted, with large sections of the country experiencing near-total internet outages. The blackout complicated efforts to confirm casualty figures, assess damage to sensitive sites and track whether protests, celebrations or security sweeps were unfolding in major cities.
Israeli officials described the strikes as coordinated with Washington and framed the action as a direct effort to reduce Iran’s ability to launch missiles and support armed groups across the Middle East. Israel has long labeled Iran’s nuclear program an existential threat, and Israeli leaders said they believed time was running out to curb it through diplomacy. Iranian officials have repeatedly denied seeking a nuclear weapon, while Western governments have argued that Iran’s enrichment and missile work could shorten the path to a bomb if leaders chose to take it.
The conflict also revived long-running concerns about Iran’s network of allied groups, including militias in Iraq and Syria and others elsewhere in the region that have carried out attacks during past crises. U.S. forces have faced rocket and drone assaults during previous surges in violence, and Saturday’s developments raised the likelihood of more attempts to strike bases, convoys or diplomatic facilities. Regional security officials cautioned that retaliation can take many forms, including cyberattacks and sabotage, even when missile launches draw the most attention.
International reaction was swift. Russia condemned the U.S.-Israeli strikes and warned of the risk of a broader catastrophe, including the danger of an incident involving nuclear-related facilities. European leaders and several Middle East governments called for restraint and urged immediate steps to prevent civilian deaths, while also preparing for further disruptions to flights, energy supplies and maritime traffic. In Washington, the strikes sparked an intense debate over strategy and oversight, with some lawmakers demanding briefings and others backing the administration’s claim that force was needed to blunt imminent threats.
On the ground, the human toll began to emerge in fragments. Iranian reports described deaths and injuries in multiple locations, including a reported strike on a girls’ school in the southern port city of Minab that Iranian accounts said killed dozens, including children. Those claims could not be independently verified Saturday, and the fog of war, combined with communications disruptions, left casualty numbers uncertain. Still, the reports intensified scrutiny over how targets were selected and what safeguards were used as the operation expanded.
As rumors about Khamenei ricocheted online, analysts cautioned that unverified claims can become weapons of their own, amplifying panic, sparking celebration or prompting rushed decisions by commanders and politicians. Iran’s leadership structure includes powerful institutions that can function even if senior figures are isolated, but the supreme leader’s role is central to major national decisions. Whether Khamenei was alive, injured or simply hidden away could shape Tehran’s next steps and the degree of internal pressure facing the government.
By Saturday night, officials in the United States and the region were signaling that more developments were imminent, including additional military assessments, diplomatic moves at the United Nations and possible follow-on strikes or retaliatory launches. For now, the public record offered no authoritative confirmation that Khamenei had been killed, even as credible reporting indicated he had been targeted and moved to a secure location amid the attacks.
Author note: Last updated February 28, 2026.