US‑Israeli strike killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, succession unclear – President Donald Trump confirmed Khamenei’s death on Feb 28 2026 [1]; four Israeli officials told the Washington Post the strike hit his Tehran compound [2]; a Fox News source said the attack exploited a meeting of senior officials [3]. Iran’s constitution places the President, the Judiciary Chief and a Guardian Council jurist in charge until the Assembly of Experts selects a new leader [4]. President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei and a Guardian Council member are thus interim authorities [4]. The New York Times reported Khamenei had pre‑planned successors, naming Ali Larijani and Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf [5][6].
Nearly 900 strikes hit Iranian targets in the first 12 hours, IDF reports 500 – An unnamed US official told Fox News the combined force carried out almost 900 attacks [7]; the Israel Defense Forces said it struck 500 Iranian sites [8]. ISW‑CTP recorded strikes across 17 provinces [9]; a senior US official told Axios the US focused on missile sites while Israel hit senior officials and missile infrastructure [10]. Netblocks reported a near‑total internet blackout in Iran, limiting public reporting of the strikes [11].
US and Israel pursue three lines: suppress air defenses, degrade missiles, disrupt command – Official statements say the campaign aims to topple the Islamic Republic, stop nuclear development and neutralize the Axis of Resistance [13][14][15]. An unspecified US official said Iranian air defenses have been “effectively suppressed” [16]; IDF strikes hit at least 11 air‑defense systems, including an SA‑65 in Kermanshah [18] and a radar on Kish Island [19]. Israeli footage showed a US Reaper drone over Shiraz, indicating degraded Iranian air defenses [20]. The force also hit missile launchers at the IRGC Amand base north of Tabriz [22] and multiple missile depots in Haji Abad, Jam and Mehrabad Airport [33][35]; overall, around 40 % of Iran’s ballistic missiles were destroyed in the 12‑day war [29]. Command‑and‑control sites were targeted, with IDF officials saying three senior sites were hit simultaneously [53]; CENTCOM confirmed strikes on IRGC command facilities [54].
Iran’s retaliation caused no US casualties but damaged regional bases and civilians – CENTCOM said Iranian missile and drone attacks inflicted no US casualties or significant damage to US installations [88][89][90]. Iran launched ballistic missiles at US bases in Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait and Jordan, damaging a clinic at al‑Udeid Airbase and the runway at Kuwait’s Ali al‑Salem Airbase [93][95]; the Italian foreign minister noted “significant damage” to the runway [95]. Drone strikes hit civilian sites in the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain, injuring workers and hotel guests [112][113][114]. Iran fired 20 missile barrages at Israel, with at least two missiles striking Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak, causing civilian casualties [108][109]; the IDF shot down over 10 Iranian drones targeting Israel [110].
No attacks reported in the Strait of Hormuz despite IRGC warnings; shipping down 70 % – An EU official told Reuters the IRGC warned “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz” [100]; no kinetic attacks have been observed [99][101]. MarineTraffic reported a 70 % drop in commercial traffic through the strait after the US‑Israeli campaign [103]; the strait carries about 20 % of global oil supplies [104].
Hezbollah and Houthis condemn strikes but have not yet retaliated; Iraqi militias claim drone ops – Both groups issued statements of solidarity with Iran on Feb 28 2026 [115][116]. Hezbollah officials warned that targeting Khamenei crosses a red line [118]; analysts say Hezbollah may launch symbolic or large‑scale attacks [117][120]. Iraqi‑backed militias of the Islamic Resistance claimed 16 drone “operations” on Feb 24 [121] and later hit Kataib Hezbollah positions in Jurf al‑Sakhar [122][123]. The Iraqi Joint Operations Command reported intercepting nine drones over Dhi Qar and Basra [129]; no group claimed responsibility for those attacks [130][131][132][133][134][135][136].