Israel targets Iranian leaders in strikes Sunday, as Iran vows revenge for death of supreme leader

Israel targeted the remnants of Iran's military leadership in aerial bombardments on Tehran early Sunday, March 1, 2026, as the Islamic republic continued retaliatory airstrikes on Persian Gulf nations following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, with the U.S. joining Israel in a joint military operation after diplomatic negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program collapsed. Israeli officials declared they would carry out 'non-stop strikes' against Iran's leadership in Tehran, with explosions hitting multiple buildings across Iran's capital, including facilities housing Iranian Defense Ministry personnel and national police headquarters. The Human Rights Activists in Iran, a Washington-based organization, reported that at least 133 civilians were killed in initial strikes with another 200 injured by Israeli and U.S. attacks on Saturday, which also claimed several top Iranian military and political leaders including Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh, and chief security adviser Ali Shamkhani. In response, Iran launched wide-scale attacks against Israel and Arab Gulf nations, with loud explosions reported across Tel Aviv as Israeli interceptors attempted to defend against a barrage of Iranian missiles, forcing thousands into underground shelters while at least one person was killed by an Iranian ballistic missile, with Israeli authorities reporting six additional deaths near an impact site approximately 18 miles from Jerusalem—the worst casualty event for Israel in its conflict with Iran. Beyond Israel, Iran again targeted Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates with missiles on Sunday, with Kuwait reporting that Iran had launched 97 ballistic missiles and 283 drones, resulting in one death and over 30 injuries, while Ali Larijani, now Iran's top defense official, vowed that the death of Ayatollah Khamenei would not deter the Islamic republic, warning that Israeli and U.S. forces in the region would face a 'force they have never experienced before.'