The United States and Israel launched a large-scale, coordinated attack on Iran, striking hundreds of targets this morning. Among the most consequential developments, President Trump and Israeli officials said Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the strikes. U.S. and Israeli forces reportedly targeted air defenses, missile and drone launch sites, regime buildings and the private compound of the supreme leader in Tehran. U.S. Central Command released footage of cruise missiles and fighter jets in the operation, which officials described as the largest regional concentration of American military firepower in a generation.
Iran responded with missile and drone strikes across the Middle East, targeting U.S. bases and allies. Explosions were reported near the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain; Iranian drones hit residential high-rises in Manama; strikes and explosions were reported in the United Arab Emirates, including damage at Dubai’s airport and at least one luxury hotel; and Iran launched attacks that struck targets in Israel, including strikes that destroyed homes and killed civilians. Iranian officials also claimed dozens were killed at a girls’ school in Tehran; some reports put the toll in the hundreds from the airstrikes.
President Trump announced the operation on social media, saying the U.S. had “destroyed their missiles and razed their missile industry to the ground.” In a recorded message to Iranians, he said, “Your hour of freedom is at hand,” and urged Iranians to take control of their government. White House officials later said the strikes were intended to prevent an imminent conventional missile threat to U.S. personnel and allies; senior administration officials told reporters that Iran may have planned to use conventional missiles against the U.S. and allies preemptively. The president monitored the strikes from his Florida resort and warned the campaign could continue until U.S. goals were achieved.
Iran retaliated swiftly, attacking U.S. military bases and allies in more than half a dozen countries. Cellphone footage showed strikes and fires across the region. U.S. officials said there were no immediate reports of U.S. casualties. The conflict quickly raised concerns over escalation: Iran’s decision to fire missiles and armed drones into regional states has drawn them into the fighting, and Turkey reportedly began diplomatic efforts to reopen talks. World leaders reacted with alarm and calls for restraint even as protests and public celebrations erupted in some places.
On the U.S. political front, some Democrats criticized the administration for not seeking congressional authorization for the strikes. Representative and former Marine Seth Moulton said the president should have gone to Congress, citing constitutional requirements to seek approval before putting American lives at risk. Democrats planned to force a vote on a bill requiring the president to seek authorization for the use of military force in Iran; Republicans were expected to oppose it and the president could veto any measure.
U.S. and international security agencies warned of heightened threats at home. Federal law enforcement increased security in dozens of U.S. cities and at sensitive sites; hundreds marched near the White House and local police and federal partners monitored protests with drones and helicopters. NYPD counterterrorism officials said the primary domestic threat is from lone actors and urged vigilance; authorities said they are investigating tips and leads.
From the region, CBS reporters described scenes in Tehran and Tel Aviv. In Tehran, smoke rose over the capital as air defenses and launch sites were struck. Video showed jubilant crowds in some neighborhoods celebrating reports the supreme leader had been killed; other areas saw security forces cracking down on celebrations with paramilitary units. In Tel Aviv, emergency responders worked into the night at scenes of strikes that destroyed homes and injured civilians.
CBS foreign correspondents and analysts provided context. Elizabeth Palmer said the strikes mark an abrupt end to 36 years of Khamenei’s rule and could create a fragmented, incoherent regime—leading to an unpredictable future: protest and possible opening for change, or violent crackdowns and even civil war. HR McMaster, retired lieutenant general and former national security adviser, argued the attacks created an opportunity by fragmenting Iranian leadership and degrading capabilities, but warned the campaign could be sustained and Iran might resort to terrorism or actions in strategic waterways. He and other analysts stressed the risks of escalation and the uncertain political outcome inside Iran.
Across the U.S., many Iranian Americans reacted emotionally. In Los Angeles, Iranian expatriates and community members gathered in the streets, with some celebrating the strikes and expressing hope for regime change, while others wept for family and friends still in Iran amid severed communications after internet outages.
CBS correspondents reported regional effects: airports and hotels damaged in the UAE; missiles and drones generating fear and casualties in multiple states; and ambulances and first responders called to strike sites in Bahrain and Israel. The Pentagon said U.S. forces have been building a large military presence in the region in recent weeks, and officials argued the operation was intended to prevent larger U.S. casualties by striking first.
On the homefront, cities including New York heightened security at sensitive sites; local authorities said they are investigating potential sleeper cells and lone actors. Federal agencies cautioned Americans to be vigilant and law enforcement said they would follow every lead to protect public safety.
As the conflict unfolds, questions remain about timing—why strikes occurred now, whether diplomacy was exhausted, and how allies were briefed. Officials said some strikes came as a preemptive response to conventional missile threats and as the U.S. and allies sought to degrade Iran’s military capabilities. Critics compared the administration’s actions to past conflicts, urging congressional oversight and debate over the decision to strike.
The situation remains fluid: Iranian forces continue to retaliate across the region, international diplomacy is active but fragile, and many Iranians at home and in the diaspora face grief, fear and hope. U.S. officials warned the campaign may continue as necessary to achieve stated goals, and leaders said there could be casualties in what the president described as an ongoing effort to prevent Iran from threatening the United States and its partners.