Trump claims Khamenei killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes as Iran fires missiles and drones across Gulf; Tehran denies
WASHINGTON and ABU DHABI — President Donald Trump said U.S.-Israeli airstrikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and vowed operations would continue, even as Tehran denied the claim and launched waves of missiles and drones that hit targets across the Gulf, killing at least two people in Abu Dhabi and injuring dozens in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait.
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Trump, monitoring the operation from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, said the strikes aimed to destroy Iranian missiles and “annihilate” its navy. He wrote on social media that heavy bombing would continue “throughout the week or, as long as necessary.” Iran has not confirmed Khamenei’s death; semi-official agencies Tasnim and Mehr reported he remained “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.”
U.S. Central Command said it had no reports of American casualties or combat-related injuries nearly 12 hours after the first strikes and that damage to U.S. facilities was minimal. A U.S. official told Reuters the operation was expected to unfold over several days.
The latest military action — the second round of U.S. strikes on Iran since Trump returned to the White House last year, after June attacks on Iranian nuclear sites — followed repeated American and Israeli warnings they would hit Iran again if it pressed ahead with nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Tehran responded with an unprecedented cross-Gulf barrage. The UAE defense ministry said Iran fired 137 missiles and 209 drones toward the country, most of which were intercepted. Authorities said one person was killed and seven were wounded in an incident at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, and that falling debris earlier killed a Pakistani civilian in the capital.
In Dubai, officials reported four people injured at the international airport and four more at the Palm Jumeirah development, where smoke and flames rose from the landmark artificial islands. Across the region, residents shared images of streaking projectiles and interceptors lighting up night skies once seen as among the world’s most secure.
Qatar said Iran launched 65 missiles and 12 drones toward its territory, with most intercepted. Eight people were injured, one critically, and the salvos targeted Al Udeid Air Base, the region’s largest U.S. military installation. In Kuwait, a drone struck the international airport and a base housing U.S. personnel; authorities reported three Kuwaiti soldiers and 12 other people wounded.
Officials in Bahrain said residential buildings in Manama were hit, with firefighters and civil defense teams deployed. Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, and parts of the kingdom’s east also came under fire. The UAE, Qatar and Kuwait closed their airspace amid the attacks. CENTCOM said no American naval vessels were hit and reiterated that no U.S. casualties had been reported.
Trump cast the campaign in sweeping terms, calling it “justice for the people of Iran” and for “great Americans” and others harmed by Khamenei and his “gang of bloodthirsty thugs.” In an earlier video address, he urged members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to lay down their weapons, promising immunity and warning that the alternative was “certain death.” He told Iranians to “take over” governance of their country, saying, “This will probably be your only chance for generations.”
Handout photos from Mar-a-Lago showed Trump in a white “USA” hat alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, huddled around a Middle East map. Vice President JD Vance joined from the White House Situation Room, the administration said.
The domestic political response was swift. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said the strikes confirmed “a war of choice with no strategic endgame.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the administration must seek congressional authorization for the preemptive use of military force. The White House said Rubio briefed top congressional leaders this week and told them the operation would likely proceed even as diplomacy continued.
The situation remained highly fluid late Saturday, with U.S. officials signaling additional strikes and Iran showing willingness to widen the theater across the Gulf. Air defenses across multiple capitals stayed on alert as residents sheltered and airports halted traffic.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
