The fate of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remains uncertain. Two sources inside Iran told the Daily Mail that Khamenei's house was 'completely obliterated' by US-Israeli strikes in Tehran. Israeli Channel 12 reported 'growing indications' Khamenei was killed or badly injured, while other reports suggest he may have been sent outside the country before the strikes.
Iranian and Israeli media also circulate claims that Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i has been 'eliminated'. If Khamenei is dead, Iran has its first new leader in nearly 40 years, reportedly replaced by his son Mojtaba Khamenei. The war erupted after a dramatic diplomatic collapse.
US and Iranian negotiators met in Geneva earlier this week in what mediators described as the most serious and constructive talks in years. Discussions showed flexibility on nuclear limits and sanctions relief, and a principles agreement could have been reached within days. Iranian officials floated proposals including potential access to energy sectors.
Oman's foreign minister Badr Albusaidi made an emergency dash to Washington to preserve the diplomatic track, appearing on CBS to outline a deal that would eliminate Iranian stockpiles of highly enriched uranium and allow full IAEA verification. However, the US aborted the talks, and Trump announced 'major combat operations' to eliminate nuclear and missile threats, urging Iranians to overthrow their leadership. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a private meeting that overran by an hour on February 20, but the diplomatic window closed abruptly.
The military campaign, called Operation Epic Fury, has been massive in scale. On the first night, 900 strikes were conducted on Iranian territory, exceeding the 180 missiles fired by Russia on the first night of the Ukraine invasion, according to Alexandre Vautravers, editor of Swiss Military Review. The Israeli Air Force says over 5,000 bombs have been dropped on targets in Iran since the operation began.
The Israeli Air Force has taken action against ballistic missile launchers and military installations in western and central Iran, while the US military has targeted missile launchers in southern Iran and taken responsibility for targeting the entire Iranian navy. US forces have hit or sunk more than 20 Iranian ships, with a video showing a torpedo hitting an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka. Israel has focused on regime facilities in Tehran based on relative advantage.
unprecedented openness
Joint coordination units in both countries synchronize intelligence, targets, and defense, and over 1,000 American soldiers are stationed in Israel. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.
Eyal Zamir speaks daily with US CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper. An Israeli military representative said 'This is a war in English,' indicating the depth of US-Israeli coordination.
The war is now entering a second phase, with fighter jets attacking deeply buried ballistic missile positions and shelters, according to Reuters sources. Israel aims to neutralize Iran's ability to launch aerial attacks on Israel by the end of the war. The strain on US munitions is a growing concern.
The US has already heavily drawn on its stocks to support Ukraine and Israel, and there is practically no modern air defense left on Iranian territory, according to Vautravers. Politico reported that US Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine was reluctant to attack due to munitions and missile stock concerns, having expressed worries since January about lack of air defense interceptors. Operations in Venezuela, Yemen, and previous Iran strikes have used many SM-3, THAAD, and Patriot missiles, and the US defense industry struggles to produce interceptors quickly enough.
Several US officials and members of Congress told Politico there is concern that sustained Iranian retaliation could exhaust US defenses. Jason Campbell, a former Pentagon adviser at the Middle East Institute, estimated the US could launch an air campaign for several weeks but not months. Iran has retaliated fiercely.
It fired more than 2,000 drones and missiles at Gulf states, and warned the US it is prepared to confront any ground assault. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington of secretly planning a land attack while publicly seeking talks. Iran-linked hackers sent spyware-laden texts to Israelis during missile strikes, gaining access to device data, according to Gil Messing of Check Point Research.
This is a war in English.
Nearly 5,800 cyberattacks by 50 Iran-tied groups have been tracked, mostly targeting US and Israeli companies. A pro-Iranian group claimed to hack FBI Director Kash Patel's account. Iran's top military spokesman, Gen.
Abolfazl Shekarchi, threatened to target recreational and tourist sites worldwide. Yemen's Houthis entered the conflict for the first time, and Netanyahu said Israel was widening its invasion of southern Lebanon. International reactions have been swift.
Russia accused the US and Israel of deliberately provoking Iran to attack Arab countries, leading to human and material losses, and said the only way to avoid further destabilization is to stop the aggression. Australia deployed military aircraft to the Middle East, with approximately 115,000 Australian citizens in the region. Pakistan hosted a four-way meeting with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt.
The US deployed three more warships and 2,500 Marines, including the USS Boxer and two other amphibious assault ships with the 11th MEU. Evacuations are underway: 138,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the Middle East, and flights carrying Britons are due to arrive in the UK. Muscat has emerged as a key evacuation hub, though a technical issue prevented the first chartered plane from taking off.
Qatar Airways will operate limited relief flights to European cities. Trump criticized Keir Starmer for refusing to allow US troops to use British bases for initial strikes, but Starmer said the special relationship with Washington will endure. Contradictory timelines and ceasefires cloud the endgame.
Some sources describe a Twelve-Day War from 13 to 24 June 2025, starting with an Israeli surprise attack, while others point to the February 28 joint campaign. A ceasefire was reportedly agreed on 24 June under US pressure, but a cessation of hostilities brokered by Pakistan took effect in early April, with the truce prolonged indefinitely at Pakistan's request. Trump called on Iranians to overthrow the regime once the fighting is done, gambling that enough damage to core institutions will cause the regime to fall, according to Nate Swanson of the Atlantic Council.
However, Trump did not outline an imminent threat or a detailed plan for what comes next. The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations, including possible seizure of Kharg Island, though the White House says planning gives Trump 'maximum optionality', not a final decision.