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Iran has vowed revenge following the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as U.S. and Israeli strikes triggered a widening regional conflict. According to the Associated Press, Iran and Israel traded heavy fire Sunday, with blasts rocking Tehran and sending thick smoke over government districts.
The U.S. military confirmed three American service members have been killed, the first known U.S. casualties in the conflict, the AP reported. Iranian state media say more than 200 people have died since the strikes began, while others have been killed in Israel and several Gulf countries.
President Donald Trump said the attacks are aimed at crippling Iran’s military and halting its nuclear weapons development. In response, Iran fired drones and missiles at Israel and targeted U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, according to the AP. Israel has pledged “non-stop” strikes against Iranian leadership and military targets.
The escalating violence has disrupted global travel. The Associated Press reports airspace across much of the Middle East has closed, including in Israel, Qatar, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. Aviation analytics firm Cirium says roughly 4,000 flights were canceled Sunday across nine countries.
International leaders are urging restraint. The United Nations and European Union have called for renewed talks, the AP reports, as fears grow that the conflict could spread further. In Pakistan, at least 10 people were killed when protesters stormed the U.S. Consulate in Karachi following news of Khamenei’s death, according to the AP.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan says it thwarted an attempted Pakistani airstrike on Bagram Air Base as cross-border fighting entered a fourth day.
With Iran’s top leader reportedly dead, the country now faces a complex succession process. The Associated Press notes a temporary leadership council could govern until the 88-member Assembly of Experts selects a new supreme leader. Those deliberations traditionally take place behind closed doors.