After the United States and Israel launched what they described as a regime change operation against Iran on Saturday morning, videos circulating on social media and later geolocated by CNN middle East,began to reveal the scale and impact of the strikes.
According to a post on Truth Social by U.S. President Donald Trump, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the attacks. Iranian state media also reported that one strike in southern Iran hit an elementary school, killing scores of students. These claims could not be independently verified.
Footage from inside Tehran showed extensive damage to several prominent political and military sites following initial reports of explosions across the capital. Multiple videos geolocated by CNN appear to show smoke rising from within the compound known as the beyt-e rahbari — the office and residence of Iran’s supreme leader, long seen as the center of Khamenei’s authority.
Satellite imagery captured by Airbus and reviewed by CNN shows visible damage to several buildings within the compound. It remains unclear whether this was the location where Khamenei was reportedly killed, and there has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding his death.
In response, Tehran launched retaliatory strikes across the Middle East. Verified footage from at least five Arab countries hosting U.S. military installations , including Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar — shows sites struck in the aftermath. Among the locations reportedly hit was a U.S. Navy facility, as well as areas near Dubai’s upscale Palm Jumeirah district.
The full extent of casualties and damage across the region remains unclear as governments continue to assess the aftermath. Independent verification of many claims remains ongoing.
Credit:CNN
