US and Israel reportedly kill top Iranian leaders, including ex-President Ahmadinejad, as Iran retaliates with missile strikes across Israel and Gulf states.
The ongoing military confrontation between the United States, Israel, and Iran entered its third day, with reports claiming that US and Israeli forces have killed several top Iranian military officials, including Ali Shamkhani, Senior Advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mohammed Pakpour, Commander of the IRGC, Amir Nasirzadeh, Minister of Defence, and Saleh Asadi, Senior Intelligence Official. Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was also reportedly killed while under house arrest during the strikes.
Israeli and Iranian media reports indicated that Ahmadinejad, who was sanctioned by the US in 2023 for his role in wrongful detentions, was eliminated in a targeted strike on his residence. Israeli sources claimed the Iranian leadership’s decimation extended to key nuclear and defence officials, including Hossein Jabal Amelian and Reza Mozaffari-Nia. In response, Iran launched missile and drone strikes across the Gulf, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens, including casualties in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
The escalation has caused widespread disruption across the region, with Qatar and the UAE reportedly shutting down key infrastructure in response to Iranian attacks. Emergency services in Israel reported at least 27 injuries in the city of Beit Shemesh alone. The confrontation underscores rising tensions in the Middle East following the reported deaths of Iran’s top leadership and highlights the potential for broader regional instability.
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