Overview
- The United States and Israel launched a coordinated campaign early Saturday, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, hitting leadership and strategic military sites across Iran.
- Israeli officials say Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound was destroyed and his body recovered, while Iranian officials reject the claim as psychological warfare and insist he is alive.
- Satellite imagery reviewed by news outlets shows extensive damage and smoke at the Tehran compound tied to the supreme leader’s office and residence.
- Iran retaliated with missiles and drones targeting Israel and several Gulf states that host U.S. bases; the Pentagon reported no American casualties.
- Intelligence assessments warn of an uncertain succession and possible IRGC consolidation of power if Khamenei’s death is confirmed, heightening the risk of a broader regional escalation.