The Middle East was on edge for a second straight day on Sunday after the United States and Israel launched a “precise and large-scale operation” across Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.
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Several explosions rocked Tehran as Israeli forces announced they were attacking targets in the capital. Powerful explosions were reported in the city center, and footage showed thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media cited Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as firing four ballistic missiles at the U.S. aircraft carrier Lincoln. news agency Reuters. However, the U.S. Central Command said, “Iranian missiles did not come close to aircraft carriers that continue to operate in the region.”
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According to reports, based on intelligence input, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dropped as many as 30 bombs on the complex where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, Defense Minister Amir Nasserzade and Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Fakpur were gathered for joint talks on Saturday. All of them died during military operations.
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Three American soldiers were killed and five others were seriously injured during a military operation targeting Iran (Epic Fury), the U.S. military said on Sunday. These are the first reported American casualties since the United States and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran.
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Immediately after Khamenei’s assassination, Iran retaliated with a barrage of missiles against a growing list of targets in Israel and Gulf Arab states. New explosions were also heard in the Middle Eastern countries where US troops are stationed: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Manama.
Tehran has unleashed a barrage of missiles and drones targeting several Middle East bases housing Israeli and U.S. troops, killing around 13 people across the region today. According to various reports, the number of deaths was 9 in Israel, 3 in the UAE, and 1 in Kuwait.
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The explosion in Tehran, whose intended target was not immediately known, sent a huge plume of smoke into the sky and shook the ground. This appears to be centered around the area where the Iranian police headquarters, Iranian state TV, the Revolutionary Court, and the Ministry of Defense building are located. Associated Press It has been reported.
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World leaders called for peace and emphasized that all parties should return to talks. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on the United States and Iran to resume discussions about their nuclear programs through negotiations.
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US President Donald Trump warned that any retaliation by Iran would only lead to further escalation. “They better not do that. If they do, we will attack them with a force we have never seen before,” he said in a post on Truth Social.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly appealed to Iranian citizens to stand up against the Iranian leadership, calling for large-scale protests to overthrow the current regime.
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Meanwhile, Iran appointed senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as interim Supreme Leader after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. Authorities invoked Article 111 of the Constitution to trigger emergency measures that would see a three-member parliament assume the supreme leader’s powers until a permanent successor is elected.
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