Shocking photos show the destruction left behind after recent US-Israeli airstrikes on several locations in Iran, amid reports that the country’s supreme leader was killed.
The strikes were carried out under the banner of ‘Operation Epic Fury’ — a name that has since been mocked online by some who have branded it ‘childish’.
Iranian officials say the weekend’s attacks hit multiple cities and left more than 200 people dead.
BBC News reported that at least 150 people are believed to have died after a school in Minab was struck.
Among those said to have been killed is Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed on Saturday (February 28), after his Tehran residence was targeted as part of the operation.
Satellite-style imagery published by US spatial intelligence firm Vantor appears to show the compound before the strike and the damage afterwards.
Posting on Truth Social, Donald Trump announced Khamenei’s death and wrote: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead.”
He added: “This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.”
Additional satellite images show heavy damage in the southern coastal city of Konarak on the Gulf of Oman, with the naval base there appearing to have been a major target.
According to the reports, the blasts destroyed a drone facility and cruise missile storage bunkers, and three naval vessels were left sunk.
One of the images appears to show thick smoke rising from what looks like a ship on fire.
The Konarak Airbase was also reportedly struck, with imagery showing burn marks across the site and visible damage on rooftops and nearby areas.
Even so, photos of the airfield suggest the 12,000ft runway may still be intact.
After the US and Israel’s attack, Iran launched retaliatory missiles and drones aimed at Israel and at nearby Gulf Arab states hosting US forces, according to reports.
POLITICO said Iranian missiles were fired toward bases in Bahrain, Iraq and Kuwait as the conflict escalated.
On Saturday (28 February), US President Donald Trump said the US and Israel had begun ‘major combat operations’ in Iran after explosions were reported in several cities.
Following weeks of increased US military presence in the region, Trump said in a Truth Social video that ‘we are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground’.
Trump said the goal of the strikes was to ‘ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon’.
Separately, speaking about Israel’s counterstrikes, the country’s defence minister said the mission was to ‘remove threats against the State of Israel’.
The escalation followed weeks of Trump warning of military action if Iran did not agree to a new nuclear deal, while Iran has repeatedly maintained its nuclear programme is ‘entirely peaceful’.
In response to the US and Israeli attacks, Iran has also carried out strikes on Israel and on Gulf Arab states, including Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait.
The BBC reported that at least nine people were killed in a strike on the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, and that military and civilian sites were targeted over the weekend — including an American naval base in Bahrain and Dubai’s international airport in the United Arab Emirates.
Videos shared on social media by tourists and residents appear to show damage in various locations from missile and drone attacks, including posts from British citizens who say they are currently stranded in Dubai.