The U.S. and Israel have launched a joint attack on Iran, killing the regime’s Supreme Leader AyatollahAli Khamenei.
In a video statement, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed a “major combat operation” in Iran to “defend the American people”.
It comes after indirect nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran ended this week.
In response, Iran said it would “give a lesson to [Israel and the U.S.] that they have never experienced in their history.“
Context
Trump had been threatening to attack Iran for weeks, amid ongoing negotiations between the two countries and internal uprisings.
Let’s unpack those two things.
Indirect negotiations: This week, the U.S. and Iran ended a round of indirect talks to limit Iran’s nuclear capability.
While the mediator of those negotiations said “significant progress” had been made, there was no deal reached.
Amid those talks, Trump had saidthe U.S. would “have to make a meaningful deal” with Iran, “otherwise bad things happen.”
He previously suggested a 10-day window for the regime to respond.
Internal uprising: In December, the largest civilian protests in Iran since the 1979 Revolution kicked off.
Demonstrators called for the end of the Iranian regime. Local health officials told media that an estimated 30,000 protesters have been killed.
Latest
Amid these ongoing events, on Saturday, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran.
Following initial reports of an attack, Trump said: “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
On Saturday (local time), the U.S. President confirmed the regime’s Supreme Leader had been killed. Since the 1979 revolution, the Supreme Leader has held almost all decision making powers in Iran.
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“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead. This is not only justice for the people of Iran, but for all great Americans, and those people from many countries throughout the world, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.”
In addition to the Supreme Leader, another seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp leaders werealso killed in the strikes.
Iranian state media also reported that 60 people were killed at a school next to a naval base in Minab.
Trump has not commented on these reports.
Iran response
The regime has responded with retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, striking Israel within hours. No casualties have been reported in Israel.
The UAE Defence Ministry said one civilian was killed by Iranian strikes in a residential area. The country also intercepted “a number of missiles.”
In Iraq, two military personnel were killed and three others wounded byIranian strikes, as reported by Reuters.
Bahrain confirmed a U.S. Navy base and residential buildings have been struck.
Australia
Shortly after the first strikes were confirmed, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security.”
He added: “Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression.”
On Thursday, the Australian Government told the families of diplomats to evacuate their postings in Lebanon and Israel.
Smartraveller has put Iran, Israel and Lebanon on its ‘Do Not Travel’ list “due to the volatile security situation, armed conflict, civil unrest and terrorism”
The airspace has closed above multiple Middle Eastern countries.
Virgin Australia flights to the Qatari capital, Doha, have been cancelled, while 89% of all flights from Dubai International Airport have been grounded.
