Where things stand
• Supreme leader killed: Iran says it views revenge for Saturday’s US-Israeli attacks as its “legitimate right and duty” after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. US President Donald Trump indicated the strikes would continue through the week. Iran says one attack killed over 100 girls at an elementary school near a military base.
• Retaliatory strikes: Israel says it has carried out a new wave of strikes “in the heart of Tehran,” as Iran unleashes fresh attacks after Khamenei’s killing. Iran has already attacked US military bases, Israel and targets across the region. The conflict has damaged air hubs, rocked densely populated areas and disrupted oil shipments.
• Celebration and condemnation: The contrast of celebrations and mourning highlights deep divides in Iran. Across the US, people took to the streets, with some celebrating and others protesting the strikes on Iran.
Putin calls Khamenei's killing a "cynical murder" that violates international law
In his first official comments since US-Israeli strikes on Iran and ensuing retaliatory strikes, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the targeted killing of Iran’s supreme leader a “cynical murder,” Russian state media agency TASS reported.
The Russian leader described Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death as a murder that violated “all norms of human morality and international law,” according to TASS.
Putin said Khamenei would be remembered in Russia as an “outstanding statesman.”
Moscow and Tehran have long been key allies, with Iran providing Russia with military support including drones and ballistic missiles, and helping Moscow build a drone-manufacturing facility, amid its war on Ukraine.
It comes after Russia’s foreign ministery yesterday condemned the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, calling them a “reckless step” and an “unprovoked act of armed aggression.”
British defense secretary says Iran lashing out “indiscriminately” across Middle East
Britain’s defense secretary said the Iranian regime is responding to the US-Israeli strikes with “indiscriminate” attacks across the Middle East, including by targeting British military assets in the region.
Healey said there were 300 personnel at Britain’s base in Bahrain, which was targeted Saturday by Iranian missiles and drones. Some of the personnel were “within a few hundred yards” of where the missiles and drones landed, he said.
Also on Saturday, two missiles were “fired in the direction of Cyprus,” he said.
The defense secretary also said the Iranian regime was a “source of evil” in the region, listing a string of ways in which it has “menaced” countries abroad and cracked down on its citizens at home.
“Twenty terror plots directed at Britain, sponsored by Iran; tens of thousands of young people, protesters, murdered on the streets in the last few months in Iran; 57,000 Iranian drones fired by Russia into Ukraine; proxy groups that destabilize countries right across the region,” Healey said.
IDF says it “will not forget” October 7 and will continue to go after Israel’s enemies
The Israeli military said it “will not forget” the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, following the joint US-Israel strikes on Iran.
Defrin quoted a post from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, from October 10, 2023, in which he told Israel the October 7 attacks would be “something you can never rise above,” and that Israel had “brought this calamity upon yourselves.”
Israel targets Iranian military headquarters in Tehran
More on a fresh round of strikes against Tehran that began Sunday morning: The Israeli air force posted video of a strike against the headquarters of the Iranian armed forces.
Along with the video, the air force posted a caption: “The destruction of the Iranian terrorist regime’s headquarters in the heart of Tehran.”
There were also reports from Tehran that a base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp had been struck.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said for the first time Israeli aircraft were “stand-in” in the skies over Tehran, implying an almost constant presence after the suppression of Iranian air defenses.
“From now on, a non-stop air train will operate for a powerful attack” on targets in Tehran,” Katz posted on X.
Iranian president says revenge is country's "right and duty"
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Iran views revenge for the attacks by Israel and the United States as its “legitimate right and duty.”
In a statement issued Sunday on Iranian state media, Pezeshkian said that the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed “at the hands of the most wicked villains in the world.”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers bloodshed and revenge against the perpetrators and commanders of this historical crime as its duty and legitimate right will fulfil this great responsibility and duty with all its might,” Pezeshkian said.
Death toll from protests outside US embassy in Karachi rises to nine, official says
At least nine people have died and 30 others injured following protests at the heavily fortified US consulate compound in Karachi, Pakistan’s emergency services told CNN.
Earlier, a police spokesman said that “hundreds of people,” angered by the death of Iran’s supreme leader, had suddenly gathered outside the American consulate. Videos geolocated by CNN showed dozens of protesters breaking through the consulate’s barricades and beating its windows with sticks.
The US Embassy in Islamabad said it is monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at the US consulates in Karachi and Lahore, amid calls for additional protests elsewhere in Pakistan.
Exclusive: Trump crossed a "very dangerous red line," Iranian official to CNN
US President Donald Trump has crossed “a very dangerous red line” by killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told CNN in an exclusive interview on Sunday.
Khatibzadeh said many Shiite followers across the world will react to the killing of Khamenei.
“Of course, from a religious aspect, he was a great religious leader, so many of Shiite followers across the region and around the world are going to react to that, and this is very obvious because President Trump passed a very dangerous red line,” Khatibzadeh said.
“We have no option but to respond,” he added.
The official said that Iran had communicated with Gulf Arab states to shut down US bases which Tehran considers a threat.
“We communicated with them: either to shut down those American bases that are constantly threatening Iran and are constantly using to offend on Iran, or we have no option just to push back,” he said.
Iran “cannot reach out to American soil, so we have no option just to attack any bases which is under US jurisdiction,” he added.
Asked whether diplomacy is still an option, he said the US has “disappointed” Iran several times and there was “no necessity to start this aggression.”
“If President Trump didn’t want to see Iran hitting back … President Trump should have not started this war from the beginning,” the official said. “It was a war of choice.”
Crowne Plaza in Bahrain confirms "incident" affected the hotel
The Crowne Plaza hotel in Bahrain has been affected by an “incident” early this morning, its hotel group confirmed to CNN.
Smoke could be seen rising from the vicinity of the Crowne Plaza hotel in Manama, the country’s capital, in video geolocated by CNN.
“All guests and staff are accounted for, and the situation is now in the hands of the local authorities,” a representative from the Intercontinental Hotel Group - who owns Crowne Plaza Bahrain - said in a statement to CNN.
The incident comes as Bahrain’s air defenses responded overnight to “hostile Iranian missile attacks” and intercepted at least 45 missiles and nine drones, state media reported Sunday.
Bahraini state media reported that “limited debris resulting from the destruction operations was reported across a number of areas,” in an update Sunday morning and said the attacks “constitute a violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty.”
Pro-Iranian protesters killed in Karachi after storming US consulate compound
Six protesters angered by the death of Iran’s supreme leader have been killed and 20 others injured after they stormed the heavily fortified US consulate compound in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi, according to local emergency workers.
“Hundreds of people suddenly appeared near the American consulate” and police arrived quickly, said Karachi Police spokesman Rehan Ali.
Yelling heard on some videos posted to social media suggests the protest was motivated by the US-Israel attacks on neighboring Iran.
Videos geolocated by CNN show dozens of protesters breaking through the security barricades and beating the consulate’s windows with sticks, before flames can be seen in the windows. Shots can be heard in at least one video.
It is unclear how the six protesters died but images emerged of bloodied bodies lying on stretchers. CNN has reached out to the US Embassy in Islamabad for comment.
The movement of US government personnel had already been restricted in Karachi, with the consulate releasing a statement Saturday citing the “current regional tensions.”
Shiite Islam is the dominant branch in Iran while its followers form a large minority in Pakistan.
This post has been updated with additional information.
Oil tanker attacked near coast of Oman
An oil tanker was attacked about five nautical miles off the coast of Masandam in Oman, the country’s maritime security center said Sunday.
Four people were injured and the whole crew of 20 people was evacuated, it said. The vessel was called “Skylight” and flew the flag of Palau, a small island nation in the western Pacific.
The maritime security center said the rescues were carried out by the Omani navy and military, “reflecting the national readiness to deal with maritime incidents.”
Oman had played a key role in mediating the recent talks between Iran and the United States, which aimed to reach a new nuclear deal.
Israel targets "heart of Tehran" in new wave of strikes
The Israeli Air Force has carried out a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital Tehran, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
“For the first time since the start of Operation ‘Roaring Lion’: The IDF is striking targets that belong to the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran,” a statement said, a day after joint attacks with the US killed Iran’s supreme leader.
“Over the past day, the Israeli Air force conducted large-scale strikes in order to establish aerial superiority and to pave the path to Tehran.”
Reports from Tehran say there were explosions in multiple areas of the city Sunday morning.
Images posted on social media purported to show large clouds of dense smoke rising from several parts of Tehran.
Video and images from Tehran show several huge explosions in various parts of the city, including around the landmark Azadi Tower in western Tehran.
Iranian state media reported multiple explosions in the north and west of the city.
The Iranian Red Crescent has confirmed airstrikes near its headquarters and several hospitals in Tehran. Explosions were also reported near Iran’s state broadcasting complex.
UAE will not “sit idly by” amid Iranian missile barrage, official tells CNN
The United Arab Emirates could switch to a more combative role if Iran continues firing missiles and drones on the Gulf Arab country, Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy told CNN.
“We are prepared to (defend ourselves). We hope it doesn’t come to it, but… we’re not going to sit idly by as we continue to be recipients of such a barrage of attacks,” Al-Hashimy told CNN’s Becky Anderson.
Asked if the UAE could switch to a more combative role, the senior official said “if it needs to come to that, it will come to that.”
“The ball is in Iran’s court right now about how they want to deal with a neighborhood and neighbor that has been traditionally a very fair and good neighbor to them,” she added.
Iran fired at least 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones at the UAE, the UAE defense ministry said Saturday night, adding that the vast majority were intercepted with the exception of 14 drones that made impact.
Iran launched an unprecedented missile and drone barrage targeting the UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi and economic and tourist hub, Dubai.
“We have one of the best air to missile defense systems in the world and we are doing everything to ensure that we are being safe and secure,” Al-Hashimy said. “We are in a safe place that has a very strong infrastructure…we will really leave no stone unturned to make sure that that continues to be the case for all of our citizens and residents alike.”
Iran is unleashing a 2nd day of retaliatory strikes after the killing of its supreme leader. Catch up here
Iran is launching a fresh wave of strikes across the Middle East a day after joint US-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with a surviving leader vowing it will “stab” America in the heart
Explosions have been heard by CNN teams in several capitals. We’ve reported on action in Israel, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Iraq.
Iran’s retaliation has already rocked the region, with strikes disrupting global air travel and oil trade.
Here’s the latest:
- Supreme leader killed: Iran has confirmed the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the joint US-Israeli attack. His daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law were also killed. His death plunges the Middle East into uncertainty, with questions being asked about who will lead Iran, how Iran’s proxies will respond and how much more retaliation the US, Israel, and its regional neighbors can expect.
- Children killed: Iranian officials have said one strike killed more than 100 girls at an elementary school near a military base. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 133 civilians have been killed across Iran.
- Trump doubles down: President Donald Trump warned Iran against retaliatory strikes, saying they would be met with strong force from the US if they continue to do so. Trump previously said the US strikes, aimed at regime change, would continue with throughout the week.
- Anti-US protests rage, with deaths in Pakistan: Protesters attempted to storm the Iraqi capital Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, where the US embassy is located, in response to the supreme leader’s killing. In Karachi, Pakistan, six protesters were killed after they stormed the heavily fortified US Consulate.
- List of slain leaders: Israel’s military shared a list of other senior Iranian officials it said were killed. Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of top general Mohammad Pakpour, key adviser to the supreme leader Ali Shamkhani, leader of the armed forces Lt. Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi, and defense minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh.
- Internet blackout: Iran has been offline for over 24 hours, “with national connectivity flatlining at 1% of ordinary levels,” according to internet monitoring experts at NetBlocks.
- Celebration and condemnation: The contrast of celebrations and mourning highlights deep divides in Iran. Across the US, people took to the streets, with some celebrating and others protesting the strikes on Iran. In London, a suburb home to a large Iranian community saw celebration.
Why Iran’s strategy of targeting Gulf Arab states could backfire
The Iranian regime has responded to the US-Israeli attacks by launching missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at civilian targets like hotels and airports in several Middle Eastern countries, most of which host US military bases.
Even Oman, which had mediated talks between the US and Iran last week, said Sunday that its Duqm commercial port was targeted.
The strikes indicate that, for Iran, “everything is on the table,” said Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow for Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think-tank.
Iran’s calculus, he said, is to “ratchet up the pain on the Gulf states, in order to compel them to apply pressure on the Trump administration to bring a quick end to the war.”
But this strategy could well backfire, Alhasan said, since it is not clear how much leverage the Gulf states have over the Trump administration.
What’s more, although the Gulf states all favor de-escalation, mass casualty events could compel them “to start considering options up the escalation ladder,” Alhasan said.
Iran launches fresh wave of strikes around the region
Iran launched a fresh wave of strikes across the Middle East Sunday morning, with explosions heard by CNN teams in several capitals and major cities.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched a “sixth wave” of missile and drone attacks on Israel and US bases in the region, according to Iranian’s semi official Tasnim news agency
In Israel: The Israeli military said it identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel and defensive systems were operational. Rounds of sirens sounded throughout central and southern Israel.
In Dubai: A CNN team on the ground in Dubai heard multiple blasts throughout the morning, and smoke in the sky. Debris from an aerial interception over Dubai’s Business Bay caused a fire the city’s major commercial port, Jebel Ali, authorities said. Plumes of smoke could also be seen rising from the port.
In Doha: A CNN team on the ground in Doha, Qatar, heard several loud explosions at 7:30 a.m. local time. Qatar’s Ministry of Interior said 16 people have been injured, with “limited material damage” in some parts of the country.
In Bahrain: Air defenses intercepted at least 45 missiles and nine drones overnight, state media reported. Video geolocated by CNN shows smoke rising from the vicinity of the Crowne Plaza hotel in Manama.
In Iraq: Photos geolocated by CNN show thick black smoke rising from a fire at the Erbil Airport. Iran’s Fars News Agency reported heavy explosions were heard in the Iraqi city on Sunday morning.
In Oman: The Duqm commercial port was targeted by two drones, injuring one worker, the country’s state news agency reported Sunday morning. The US Embassy in the capital city of Muscat has issued a security alert instructing staff and Americans in Oman to shelter in place “due to ongoing activity outside of Muscat.”
CNN is also working to verify blasts reported in other cities and we’ll update you with any developments.
Oman's Duqm Port targeted by drones, state media reports
Oman’s Duqm commercial port was targeted by two drones, injuring one worker, the country’s state news agency reported Sunday morning.
“One of them struck a mobile workers’ accommodation unit, injuring an expatriate worker, while debris from the other fell in an area near the fuel tanks without causing any human casualties or material damage,” Oman News Agency reported, citing a security source.
The US Embassy in Muscat issued a security alert Sunday instructing staff and Americans in Oman to shelter in place “due to ongoing activity outside of Muscat.”
Downed drone crashes in Kuwait
Video geolocated by CNN appears to show a Shahed drone crashing into the ground in Bnaider, on the Kuwaiti coastline. In the video, the fiery silhouette of the drone can be seen falling out of the sky trailed by a thick black smoke trail.
Two injured by falling debris over Dubai
Two people were injured in Dubai after debris from drones intercepted by air defenses fell into the courtyards of two homes, authorities said.
“The injured have received the necessary medical care,” the Government of Dubai’s Media Office said in a post on X.
Officials also confirmed that the explosions heard across the emirate Sunday were the result of “successful interception operations.”
CNN reporters in Dubai have been hearing a series of blasts throughout the day, starting around 8 a.m. local time.
Texas Military Department to activate service members following strikes on Iran
The Texas Military Department announced today that they are activating service members across state to help protect citizens and critical infrastructure from any potential retaliation threats following the US and Israel’s joint strikes on Iran.
“At the direction of Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Military Department (TMD) is activating Service Members for Operation Fury Shield - working alongside our state partners to protect our citizens and critical infrastructure from any potential threat of retaliation,” the Texas Military Department wrote on X.
The department, which is composed of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard, said they plan to increase patrols at key locations, including energy facilities, ports and the southern border, as well as engage in efforts to enhance cybersecurity capabilities.
Senior Iranian official says no US warships can enter Persian Gulf
No US warships would be allowed to enter the Persian Gulf Moshen Rezaei, a former top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander and senior Iranian official, said Sunday.
Rezaei’s pronouncement came in a Telegram post from the state-run Fars News Agency.
The US Navy amassed what President Donald Trump has called an “armada” of ships in the region before Saturday’s attack on Iran. In the days leading up to the strikes, at least a few of those US ships were in the Gulf while others were in the Arabian Sea. The exact location of US ships in the region was unknown on Sunday.
Video released by US Central Command since the strikes began showed US warships launching Tomahawk missiles as part of the strikes on Iran as well as fighter jets taking off from an aircraft carrier.
