The Middle East is experiencing a dramatic and dangerous escalation after joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — a leader with four decades of influence over Iranian state and military policy. Iranian state media has confirmed his death, and additional senior military figures including defence minister Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh were reportedly struck in the same offensive.

The strikes have triggered ongoing regional retaliation, with Iran launching missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases and Israeli locations across the Gulf and beyond. Explosions have been reported in several countries — including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and parts of Israel — and organisations such as Hezbollah have engaged in cross-border attacks, drawing Israeli responses over Lebanon’s capital Beirut. Instagram · Twitter