Overview
- U.S. and Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury with strikes in Tehran targeting Iran’s senior leadership, including the supreme leader’s compound.
- President Trump and some Israeli officials said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, a claim Iranian authorities denied as independent confirmation was not available.
- Videos and eyewitness accounts showed pockets of celebration inside Iran—dancing and chants such as “I love Trump”—alongside fear, closures and heavy security patrols.
- Large diaspora rallies cheered the strikes in cities including Los Angeles, Toronto and Washington, while anti-war demonstrators expressed skepticism in New York.
- NetBlocks reported Iran’s nationwide connectivity plunged to a small fraction of normal levels as U.S. and Israeli leaders urged Iranians to seize control of their government.