The Iranian regime’s state television Shabakeye Khabar officially announced and confirmed in the early hours of Sunday the killing of Ali Khamenei, the regime’s supreme leader; news that had been preceded hours earlier by numerous reports of explosions and missile attacks in various parts of the country.
Following the killing of Hossein Pakpour, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the state-run Khabar Online website reported the appointment of Ahmad Vahidi as the new IRGC commander. Arab media outlets also reported that the Iraqi government declared three days of public mourning. Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that this action was the first step toward a future in which “an evil dictatorship” cannot hold the world hostage, emphasizing that if the mission is not completed, the problem will not be resolved.
The state-run Shargh newspaper reported that Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Armed Forces; Hossein Pakpour, commander-in-chief of the IRGC; Ali Shamkhani, a senior security official and former secretary of the Supreme National Security Council; and the defense minister were killed in the attacks. Mohammad Baseri, a senior official at the Ministry of Intelligence, also died in Tehran. Reuters, citing Iranian state media, reported that Khamenei’s daughter, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law were also killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.
Ali Larijani, an adviser to the Iranian regime’s supreme leader and former speaker of parliament, stated, “You burned our hearts,” emphasizing that an enemy attack does not mean the matter is over. He said the enemy is deluded if it thinks assassinating commanders can destabilize the ruling system and added that now is not the time to settle internal disputes. Larijani announced the imminent formation of a temporary leadership council. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the regime’s Majlis (parliament), also said that the country’s military and administrative structure is no longer centered on individuals and that planning has been done for all scenarios, warning that they must avoid playing on the enemy’s field.
The Iranian regime’s foreign ministry announced it would use all its capabilities to counter what it called “enemy mischief.” The regime’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement that the operation occurred during negotiations and that the armed forces had begun a crushing response. The head of the judiciary stated that the United States cannot undermine the will of the ruling system through such actions. The cabinet declared 40 days of public mourning and seven days of nationwide closure, and the Supreme National Security Council announced the closure of all schools nationwide until further notice. The IRGC stated it would stand firm against internal and external conspiracies and that the armed forces and the Basij militia would continue Khamenei’s path.
In statement number six, the IRGC announced that the sixth wave of Operation “True Promise 4” was carried out with extensive missile and drone attacks, targeting 27 U.S. bases in the region, along with Tel Nof airbase, the Israeli General Staff headquarters in HaKirya, and a defense industries complex in Tel Aviv. Reuters, citing the IRGC, reported that the most intense offensive operation against Israel and U.S. bases is forthcoming. Telegram sources reported drone attacks by the regime’s proxy forces in Erbil, Iraq. In response, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it had successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks, and the Israeli military reported the start of a new wave of strikes against Iran’s ballistic missiles and air defense systems.
Attacks on other countries
At the same time, reports emerged of a column of smoke at Dubai airport and successive explosions in Kuwait. Explosions and air defense activity were also reported in northeastern Tehran. Reuters reported an airstrike on a sports hall in Lamerd, southern Iran, which left 15 dead. Al Arabiya reported that the IRGC had closed the Strait of Hormuz and warned passing vessels to leave the area immediately; a move that coincided with a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Transportation advising commercial ships to avoid transit through the Persian Gulf.
An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council was held regarding the situation in Iran. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the escalation of military tensions in the Middle East and called for the immediate return of all parties to the negotiating table. The U.S. representative stated that the operation was aimed at eliminating Iran’s missile capabilities and preventing a nuclear threat and criticized the presence of the Iranian regime in the council. Representatives of France and the United Kingdom also warned against further escalation and condemned Iran’s attacks on regional countries. China’s representative expressed deep concern over the U.S. and Israeli attacks and called for an immediate ceasefire. The German chancellor stated that the United States had sought a negotiated solution for weeks but that Iran had not agreed. In contrast, Iran’s representative to the United Nations emphasized that as long as aggression continues, Iran will respond decisively.
