CHANDIGARH — The Middle East has been plunged into an unprecedented crisis following a massive joint military offensive by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran. In a major turning point early Sunday morning, official Iranian channels verified the assassination of the country’s top leader, alongside reports of mounting civilian death tolls and widespread regional retaliation.
Confirmation of Khamenei’s Death After initial hours of silence and denial, Iranian state media officially confirmed on Sunday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint US-Israeli airstrikes. According to The Economic Times, Iranian state television and news agencies verified that the 86-year-old leader perished when his heavily fortified Leadership House compound in Tehran was destroyed. Further reports indicate that several of Khamenei’s immediate family members were also killed in the bombardment.
Mounting Civilian Casualties in Minab As the extent of the military campaign is assessed, reports of severe civilian casualties are emerging. An AP News report noted that hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded nationwide.
The most devastating incident occurred in the southern city of Minab in Hormozgan province, where a primary school for girls was directly hit in a multi-stage missile attack. According to The Times of India and TRT World, the judiciary and local officials report that the death toll at the school has risen to at least 85 students, with dozens more injured as rescue workers continue to clear the wreckage.
Global Reactions and UN Security Council Clash The strikes prompted an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, exposing deep rifts among global powers.
- United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the US-Israeli airstrikes for violating international law and the UN Charter, while simultaneously condemning Iran’s retaliatory attacks against neighboring states, warning of a wider conflict, according to PBS News.
- Russia: Taking a hardline stance, Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the campaign as a “preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression” against a sovereign UN member state. As reported by AP News, Moscow accused Washington and Tel Aviv of using Iran’s nuclear program as a cover for regime change.
- China: Beijing supported Russia’s call for immediate de-escalation. China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong stated that Iran’s “sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected,” urging a return to diplomatic negotiations.
- US and Israel: US Ambassador Mike Waltz defended the strikes as “lawful actions” necessary for global security, while Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon argued the operation was required to stop an existential threat from an extremist regime.
Allies Voice Support for US-Israel Offensive While the strikes have drawn condemnation from adversaries like Russia and China, several of America’s closest allies have publicly backed the military action.
According to CTV News, Canada and Australia have expressed open support for the US-led operation. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney strongly defended the strikes, stating, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East.” He added that Canada fully supports the United States acting to prevent the regime from developing nuclear weapons and threatening international peace.
New Zealand also offered measured backing. A joint statement from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters acknowledged that the attacks keep the Iranian regime from remaining an ongoing threat, noting that “the Iranian regime has long since lost that support” of its own people.
Behind the scenes, a report by The Washington Post revealed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made multiple private phone calls to US President Donald Trump over the past month heavily advocating for a US attack, despite Riyadh’s public calls for a diplomatic solution.
Iran’s Retaliation Targets Israel and Gulf Infrastructure Following the initial attacks, Iran launched waves of retaliatory ballistic missiles and drones. PBS News reports that Israeli emergency services confirmed at least one death and dozens of injuries in the Tel Aviv area from incoming fire.
The retaliation also expanded regionally, targeting US military infrastructure in the Gulf. Striking civilian transit hubs, the attacks injured four staff members at Dubai International Airport in the UAE, resulting in massive regional flight cancellations and airspace closures.
