Iran has begun three days of public mourning after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His body will lie in state at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosque beginning at 10 p.m. local time Wednesday, allowing mourners to pay respects. State television will broadcast prayers and public speeches as part of the funeral rites.
A U.S.-based rights group, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), reported late Tuesday that it has documented 912 civilian deaths and 211 civilian injuries linked to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operation. HRANA said at least 181 of the dead were children under age 10 and that it is reviewing another 880 reports of fatalities. The group also said it has “verified credible reports of attacks on at least seven medical centers and emergency health facilities,” calling the tallies “devastating and escalating” and stressing that protection of civilians is a binding legal obligation. ABC News noted it could not independently verify the figures but said HRANA has a record of accurate reporting in past incidents.
Regional tensions rose further Wednesday as the Kuwaiti Army said it was “dealing with a wave of missiles and drones,” reporting incoming strikes amid continuing Iranian attacks across the region.
In Europe, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the nation after a public spat with U.S. leadership. Sánchez responded to President Donald Trump’s threat of a full trade embargo — tied to Spain’s refusal to permit U.S. use of Spanish bases in the conflict — by reiterating Spain’s stance: “No to war.” He condemned what he called Iran’s “indiscriminate” attacks on neighboring countries, questioned the clarity of U.S. and Israeli objectives, and warned that a prolonged war would have serious consequences for the global economy and the cost of living. Citing lessons from the 2003 Iraq invasion, Sánchez urged a diplomatic solution and said that “no-one” supports Tehran’s theocratic regime, calling for an end to hostilities before the situation worsens.
The region remains on high alert as state funerals, civilian casualty reports, and cross-border strikes unfold. International actors continue to urge restraint and push for diplomatic channels to prevent further escalation.