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Araghchi further insisted that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian remain alive, along with other senior figures in parliament and the judiciary. Yet satellite imagery tells a dramatic story. Strikes reportedly hit Khamenei’s compound in central Tehran, reducing large portions of the site to rubble. It is believed the 86 year old Supreme Leader was evacuated before impact, but his current location has not been disclosed.
Israeli officials are also assessing whether Iran’s intelligence chief was killed in the operation, though confirmation remains pending. If verified, it would represent yet another severe hit to the regime’s upper ranks.
The offensive carries two names. U.S. officials are calling it “Epic Fury,” while Israeli forces have labeled it “Operation Roaring Lion.” Both titles signal a calculated show of strength. The targets were not random. Nuclear facilities, ballistic missile infrastructure, military bases and leadership compounds were all reportedly struck in a sweeping, multi front assault.
The strikes follow weeks of failed nuclear negotiations and a visible American military buildup across the region. Aircraft carriers, missile defense systems and additional personnel had been deployed in recent weeks, signaling that patience in Washington was wearing thin.
President Donald Trump confirmed the action in a video address, describing the strikes as “major combat operations.” He framed the decision as a necessary response to what he described as escalating threats tied to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Trump also urged the Iranian people to challenge their regime, signaling that Washington sees the moment as more than a tactical exchange.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed that congressional leadership had been briefed beforehand on the potential need to act in defense of American forces.
Tehran wasted little time responding. The IRGC announced its retaliation under the name “Truthful Promise 4,” launching missile and drone attacks across the region. Targets reportedly included Israel as well as U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Jordan. Iranian state media claimed strikes on the U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain along with installations in Qatar and the UAE.
In Abu Dhabi, a civilian was killed after debris from an intercepted missile fell in a populated area. The fatality marks the first confirmed death tied to Iran’s counterstrikes. Other Gulf states reported damage from missiles that were intercepted mid air, preventing what could have been far greater destruction.
So far, U.S. officials report no American casualties.
The region now stands on edge. With top Iranian commanders reportedly dead, nuclear facilities damaged and retaliation underway, the coming days may determine whether this operation remains contained or spirals into a broader regional war. What is clear is that the balance of power inside Iran’s military command has been shaken in a way few thought possible just days ago.
