(Web Desk) – Iran’s state broadcaster confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei early hours Sunday local time, hours after US and Israel said he had been killed in they airstrikes Saturday.
Shortly afterward, the Iranian cabinet announced seven days of public holiday and 40 days of national mourning.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed in Saturday airstrikes, Iran International can confirm.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned vessels not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian missile strikes continue to hit its Arab neighbors.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, was killed during Saturday’s attacks. Several IRGC commanders were also killed in the strikes, according to Reuters.
Iran launched missile attacks toward Israel and across Persian Gulf states, with Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar reporting interceptions; one person was killed in Abu Dhabi.
The Pentagon named its mission “Operation Epic Fury,” while Israel dubbed its campaign “Lion’s Roar” and called up thousands of reservists.
Blasts were reported in Tehran, Tabriz, Qom, Karaj, Khorramabad, Kermanshah, Ilam and other cities. Iran’s Supreme Leader’s office in Tehran was targeted, and Iran closed its airspace for six hours.
US-Iran strikes disrupt global travel as airlines cancel flights
Major airports across the Middle East were shut Saturday after US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s missile retaliation triggered major disruption to global aviation, Reuters reported.
Dubai International Airport—the world’s busiest hub for international travel—was closed after sustaining damage during overnight Iranian attacks, while Abu Dhabi and Kuwait airports were also hit.
Airspace closures across the region left skies over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain largely empty as airlines cancelled or rerouted flights.