In a significant escalation of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted precision airstrikes overnight targeting key facilities within the Iranian regime's leadership compound in central Tehran. The IDF announced early Tuesday that its air force had "struck and dismantled facilities" in the compound, specifically hitting the Presidential Office, the Supreme National Security Council building, a military training institution, and additional regime infrastructure. According to the military's statement, "numerous munitions" were deployed based on precise intelligence, with the compound previously associated with the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in initial strikes over the weekend.
Explosions were reported across Tehran and its suburbs, with residents describing intense blasts and plumes of smoke rising from the targeted areas. The strikes occurred simultaneously with Israeli operations against Hezbollah positions in Beirut, Lebanon, expanding the conflict on multiple fronts. This latest wave of attacks comes on the fourth day of "Operation Epic Fury," the joint U.S.-Israeli operation launched on February 28. The campaign has already resulted in the deaths of Khamenei and numerous senior Iranian officials, severely disrupting Iran's command structure amid a leadership succession crisis. Iranian authorities report hundreds of fatalities since the conflict began, with the Red Crescent Society citing a rising death toll exceeding 700 in some estimates.
Iran has responded with continued missile and drone barrages targeting Israel and U.S. interests across the Gulf region. Overnight, Iranian forces struck sites including the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, prompting evacuations and heightened alerts at American diplomatic facilities in several neighbouring countries.
U.S. President Donald Trump has described the operation as aimed at dismantling Iran's ballistic missile arsenal, naval capabilities, nuclear program, and support for proxy groups. He indicated the campaign could extend for weeks, emphasising America's substantial munitions reserves to sustain prolonged action without it becoming an "endless war." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this, stating the effort would not drag on for years but would remain decisive. The attacks on symbolic regime sites like the presidential office underscore efforts to further weaken Iran's remaining leadership and security apparatus. Regional aviation, shipping, and oil markets continue to face major disruptions, while protests and mourning periods have been declared in Iran. The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides vowing further retaliation and no immediate signs of de-escalation.
