This week’s guide to government and politics in under 10 minutes

I U.S. AND ISRAEL LAUNCH MAJOR STRIKES ON IRAN

A joint U.S.-Israeli military operation early Saturday targeted hundreds of Iranian military, government and leadership sites, including the compound of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has been killed, according to Israeli officials and President Donald Trump. The strikes, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” by the Pentagon, were launched amid claims that Iran had been rebuilding its nuclear program. Trump said that his objective “is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” Khamenei’s death marks one of the rare instances in modern history of a head of state being killed by another country's military. One of the most recent similar cases came last summer, when an Israeli airstrike killed Ahmed al-Rahawi, the prime minister of Yemen’s rebel-controlled government. 

I U.S. ANNOUNCED DEATHS OF THREE TROOPS

On Sunday, the U.S. Central Command announced that three American service members were killed during the operation, marking the first U.S. deaths in the conflict. Five others were seriously wounded, and several others had minor injuries, including concussions. Several hundred others across the region have also been killed in the weekend’s strikes, including more than 200 in Iran, 10 in Israel, and two in the United Arab Emirates. 

I IRAN RETALIATES ACROSS THE REGION

Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting ships and countries across the Middle East. Several people were killed in a blast near Jerusalem, and Iranian missiles have also targeted American bases in Bahrain, Iraq, and Kuwait as part of the conflict. Other targets so far include the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Airports were damaged, including Dubai International Airport, where four staff members were injured. An intercepted Iranian drone reportedly caused a minor fire on the exterior of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, and debris was found in several other locations around the city. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has not shown any sign of stopping its retaliation. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it would continue retaliating against what it called attacks on its military and civilian infrastructure and urged the United Nations to take action.

I U.S. LAWMAKERS SPLIT OVER TRUMP’S MILITARY ACTIONS IN IRAN

The strikes have divided U.S. lawmakers, as Trump launched the operation without congressional authorization. Members of the Gang of Eight — a name for the group of top Democratic and Republican party leaders from both chambers, as well as the Intelligence Committees' leadership — were notified, but critics argue that Article 1 of the Constitution gives only Congress the power to declare war. Others have cited the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires the president to consult with Congress and give a 48-hour advance notification for troop deployments. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune defended the strikes, saying Iran’s nuclear ambitions posed a threat. Critics, including Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, have condemned the action and are pursuing legislation to limit sustained military operations without congressional approval. Trump has said the strikes could last from one week to as long as “necessary.”

I REACTIONS INSIDE IRAN: MOURNING, CELEBRATION, AND UNCERTAINTY

Reactions across Iran to the U.S.–Israeli strikes and the killing of Khamenei have been deeply divided. Iranian state media and officials announced a 40‑day national mourning period and thousands gathered to grieve and condemn the attack, including crowds in Tehran and other cities where some chanted “death to America” and “death to Israel.” At the same time, other Iranians celebrated in streets and neighborhoods, dancing, cheering and honking horns at news of Khamenei’s death. Social media posts also captured the divide: some Iranians expressed relief and hopeful anticipation of a future without the hard-line cleric, while others mourned the loss and worried about the country’s stability amid ongoing conflict.

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