Trump calls for an uprising as US and Israel attack Iran

President confirms death of supreme leader Khamenei, as Iranians launch a wave of missiles towards US military bases

- HOLLY EVANS

The Middle East has been plunged into conflict after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, with Donald Trump declaring the start of “major combat operations” and confirming that Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed.

“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” the US president wrote on Truth Social, adding that it is the “single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country”.

Explosions were heard across the country yesterday morning, including in the capital Tehran, with strikes appearing to target the compound of Khamenei.

Iran has vowed a “crushing retaliation” and launched a wave of missiles towards Israel and US military bases in Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain, sparking concerns the region could be dragged into a major conflict.

In a video address, President Trump called on the Iranian people to “take over your government” and stressed Iran could never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, adding: “It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to take it any longer.”

Hundreds of flights have been grounded across the region, leaving thousands of travellers stranded after Iran, Israel, the UAE and Kuwait closed their airspace and major carriers and airports suspended services.

Sir Keir Starmer said British planes “are in the sky today” in the region “as part of coordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies” but he confirmed the UK was not involved in the strikes. He condemned Iran’s authoritarian regime and demanded that it end attempts to develop nuclear weapons.