Violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi and in the country's north left at least 22 people dead and more than 120 others injured as demonstrators supportive of the Iranian government attempted to storm a U.S. Consulate on Sunday, authorities said.

In the north of the country, demonstrators attacked U.N. and government offices.

The violence came after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Police and officials at a hospital in Karachi said that at least 50 people were also wounded in the clashes and some of them were in critical condition.

RELATED STORY | 3 US service members killed as Iran retaliates after strikes on Khamenei

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his profound sorrow over the martyrdom" of Khamenei and conveyed his condolences to Iran, according to his office. He said: Pakistan stands with the Iranian nation in this moment of grief and shares in their loss.

Summaiya Syed Tariq, a police surgeon at the city's main government hospital, confirmed six bodies and multiple injured people were brought to the facility. However, she said the death toll rose to 10 after four critically wounded people died.

In addition, 12 people were killed and over 80 wounded in clashes with police in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region when thousands of protesters angered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran attacked the offices of the U.N. Military Observer Group and the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP), local police official Asghar Ali said.

A government spokesman, Shabir Mir, said all staff working for those organizations was safe. He said protesters repeatedly clashed with police at various places in the region, damaged the offices of a local charity, and set fire to police offices. However, he said authorities had deployed troops and brought the situation under control.

RELATED STORY | Trumps Iran attack raises legal concerns among Democrats in Congress

The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan said in a post on X that it was monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at the U.S. Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, as well as calls for additional protests at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the consulate general in Peshawar.

It advised U.S. citizens in Pakistan to monitor local news, stay aware of their surroundings, avoid large crowds and keep their travel registration with the U.S. government up to date.

U. S. Consulate windows smashed

In Karachi, which is the capital of southern Sindh province and Pakistans largest city, senior police official Irfan Baloch said that protesters briefly attacked the perimeter of the U.S. Consulate, but were later dispersed.

He dismissed reports that any part of the consulate building was set on fire. However, he said that protesters torched a nearby police post and smashed windows of the consulate before security forces arrived and regained control.

Protests in the area surrounding the consulate went on for hours, with dozens of youth, some covering their faces, throwing stones at law enforcement officials and vowing to reach the consulate where hundreds of police and paramilitary officers have been deployed.

The clashes prompted Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to issue an appeal for calm.

Following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, every citizen of Pakistan shares in the grief of the people of Iran, Naqvi said in a statement, but urged people not to take the law into their own hands and to express their protests peacefully. The provincial government of Sindh also urged citizens to express their views peacefully and warned against engaging in violence.

Protests took place elsewhere in Pakistan

In Islamabad, police fired tear gas and swung batons as hundreds of protesters, angered by the killing of Khamenei, tried to march toward the U.S. Embassy. The clashes took place outside the city's diplomatic enclave, where the embassy is located, and additional police had been deployed.

Meanwhile, in the northwestern city of Peshawar, authorities also used tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of demonstrators attempting to approach the U.S. Consulate to hold a rally and to denounce the killing of the Iranian leader, police said.

Protesters also held a peaceful rally in Multan, a city in Punjab province, chanting slogans against Israel and the United States.

Mamoona Sherazi, who attended the rally, said that she was protesting Khamenei's killing. God willing, we will never bow before America and Israel, she said.

Protesters also rallied and clashed with police repeatedly near the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province, police said. Authorities said that the government has stepped up security around the U.S. Embassy in the capital, and consulates across the country to avoid any further violence.

A metro Detroit doctor says he has treated more than 30 young patients for slope-related injuries this month alone a number he says he has never seen before. With March historically bringing some of Michigan's harshest winter conditions, icy slopes are adding to the danger.

Watch Faraz's report below

Metro Detroit Pediatric orthopedic surgeon sees dramatic rise in ski and snowboard injuries among kids this winter

Thirteen-year-old Gabriel Cline should be in school, playing with his friends. Instead, he's at the doctor's office recovering from a skiing accident that shattered both bones in his right leg.

"White Lightning was a black diamond I gained too much speed, hit a bump, crashed twisted my leg like that," Gabriel said.

Gabriel says it happened on a slope far above his skill level and in seconds, he went from thrill to trauma. X-rays confirmed the extent of the damage.

"This is where his leg or tibia broke in half in a spiral fashion, so it twisted. And it was significantly displaced, and it required surgery," Dr. Ahmed Bazzi, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with Michigan Orthopaedic Surgeons, said.

With a steel rod stabilizing the bone, Gabriel was back on his feet within weeks a recovery Bazzi calls remarkable.

"I learned how to walk again this week and it's not really been that painful at night anymore," Gabriel said.

But Gabriel's accident is part of a troubling trend Bazzi has been tracking this winter.

"This season specifically I've seen a really big uptick in ski and snowboard-related injuries just this season alone," Bazzi said.

This month alone, Bazzi said he has treated more than 30 young patients for slope-related injuries a number he says he has never seen before.

Bazzi points to a combination of riskier behavior, limited training, poor equipment fit, and harsher slope conditions. With March still part of Michigan's winter season, icy, compacted snow means more speed and a harder landing.

"Natural snow has packed up, thawed, frozen, become icy... and then more artificial snow goes on top. What you're landing on is harder, slicker," Bazzi said.

Those conditions are translating into a rise in serious injuries that can sideline kids for weeks or impact their growth long-term.

"Shoulder injuries, elbow fractures, femur fractures, knee ligament tears and in children, growth plate injuries," Bazzi said.

Gabriel wants to turn his painful experience into a cautionary message for his three younger siblings.

"I learned not to pressure myself into going down hills too advanced for me and I learned my limits," Gabriel said.

Bazzi says prevention starts before getting on the lift.

"Proper instruction, fitted gear, checking your bindings, learning how to fall, and stretching before and after skiing that's critical," Bazzi said.

If you are heading out to the slopes, the right gear, a little caution, and preparation for the sport can all make a difference.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Detroit Police Department is investigating two shootings that happened on the city's west side on Sunday morning. At this time, it doesn't appear that the shootings are related.

Here are details about the two shootings, listed in chronological order:

3:07 a.m.

One man is dead after police say he was shot in the early morning hours on Detroit's west side.

Police found the body of a man in the 7100 block of West Warren; this shooting is being investigated as a homicide, with DPD telling us the suspect is unknown.

9 a.m.

A child was taken to the hospital after accidentally shooting themselves in a home on Detroit's west side.

Police responded to a home in the 8800 block of Artesian around 9 a.m. this morning. We're told that the child found the gun and discharged it.

We're told that the child is in stable condition and that DPD is investigating what led up to the incident.

Hundreds of thousands of stranded travelers scrambled to make new connections and get through to airlines on jammed phone lines after the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel shut down much of the Middle East to air travel.

RELATED STORY | How they got him: Khamenei confirmed dead after CIA tracked Iran's Supreme Leader for months

Tourists and business travelers crowded hotels and airports, with no word on when many airports would reopen or when flights to and through the Middle East would resume. Some governments advised their stranded citizens to shelter in place.

Shutdown airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha including Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest in the world are important hubs for travel between Europe, Africa and the West to Asia. All three were directly hit by strikes.

Mohammad Abdul Mannan, in the crowd at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, said he wasn't concerned about the war, but that he needs to get his flight to the Middle East to make a living.

We have set out to go for work, and we must go," he said. "My only concern is how to go abroad and how to earn an income.

In Dubai, stranded travelers could hear fighter jets overhead and an explosion when the Fairmont Palm Hotel was hit by a missile strike.

Many were unable to get updated flight information from tour operators or Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, which suspended all flights to and from Dubai until at least Monday afternoon.

Louise Herrle and her husband had their flight to Washington canceled on their way back to their Pittsburgh home after a tour of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with no word when they could reschedule.

Were in the hotel room, we are not leaving it, so youre not going to give it up until we know we have a flight out of here, Herrle said. Im sure everyone else is in the same situation.

RELATED STORY | Strikes on Iran could push US gas prices well above $3, analysts warn

Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, said it is hard to calculate the number of travelers affected worldwide.

However, it estimated that at least 90,000 people alone change flights daily in the airports in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi on just three airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways.

Airports and airspaces still closed

Airspace or airports in Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates were closed, according to flight tracking sites and government agencies there.

More than 1,800 flights were canceled Sunday to airports across the Middle East, including those in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt, according to Cirium. At least that number of flights were canceled Saturday.

Cancellations will extend beyond Sunday, at least.

Emirates Airlines suspended all flights to and from Dubai until at least Monday afternoon. The Qatar airport was closed until at least Monday morning, according to Qatar Airways. Israeli airline El Al said it was preparing a recovery effort to bring home Israelis stranded abroad once the airspace reopened.

Two airports in the United Arab Emirates reported strikes as the government there condemned what it called a blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles on Saturday.

Officials at Dubai International Airport said four people were injured, while Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi said one person was killed and seven others were injured in a drone strike. Strikes were also reported at Kuwait International Airport.

Iran did not publicly claim responsibility.

Flight delays and cancellations are likely to continue

Airlines urged passengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport. Some airlines issued waivers to affected travelers that will allow them to rebook their flight plans without paying extra fees or higher fares.

For travelers, theres no way to sugarcoat this, said Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group. You should prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.

Mike McCormick, who used to oversee air traffic control for the Federal Aviation Administration, said countries might reopen their airspace once American and Israeli officials tell airlines where military flights are operating and how capable Iran remains at firing missiles.

Check your flight status before you travel

The reverberations echoed far outside the Middle East for example, airport authorities in the resort island of Bali in Indonesia said more than 1,600 tourists were stranded at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Sunday after five flights to the Middle East were canceled or postponed.

Airlines that are crossing the Middle East will have to reroute flights around the conflict with many flights headed south over Saudi Arabia. That will cause delays and higher costs.

Jonathan Escott and his partner had arrived at the airport in Newcastle, England, on Saturday only to find out that his direct flight to Dubai on Emirates airline was canceled, leaving everyone on the flight stuck there.

Escott had no idea when he may be able to travel.

No one knows, Escott said. No one really knows whats going on with the conflict, really. Not Emirates, Emirates dont have a clue. No one has a clue.

No. 3 Michigan sophomore guard L.J. Cason will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, the team announced Saturday.

Cason came up limping a day earlier in an 84-70 win at Illinois in which the Wolverines (27-2, 17-1) clinched the Big Ten regular-season title.

He appeared to be initially hurt when falling to the court after chasing down a defensive rebound late in the first half. Cason returned to play for two-plus minutes in the second half before leaving the game with about 13 minutes left, and finished with nine points.

First and foremost, our hearts hurt for L.J., coach Dusty May said in a statement.

You never want to see a young man who has poured so much into this program have something like this happen, he added. However, if theres anyone equipped to handle this and the rehab process, its LJ.

Cason is a primary backup, who was sixth on the team in averaging 8.4 points per outing, while going 33 of 82 in 3-point attempts in 28 games this season.

This isnt how I wanted my season to end, but I trust Gods plan, and Ill attack rehab the same way I approach everything -- with focus and determination, Cason said. Weve got many goals as a team, and Ill be locked in supporting my brothers every step of the way.

Michigan plays at Iowa on Thursday before closing its season hosting Michigan State on March 8. The team has earned a bye through the opening rounds of the Big Ten tournament, which it will open in the quarterfinals on March 13.

___

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President Donald Trump on Sunday vowed to continue military operations against Iran following the deaths of three American soldiers.

In a video post on his Truth Social platform, the president sympathized with the families of the service members who died and five others who were seriously injured, but said that military operations in Iran must continue in order eliminate what he described as a "bloodthirsty terrorist regime armed with nuclear weapons."

"As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives," he said. "We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen, and sadly, there will likely be more before it ends, that's the way it is. [There will] likely be more but we'll do everything possible where that won't be the case. But America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against basically civilization."

President Donald J. Trump provides an update on Operation Epic Fury: pic.twitter.com/Vte8QKpISn The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 1, 2026

"I once again urge the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death it will be certain death, it won't be pretty," President Trump added. "I call upon all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment. To be brave, be bold, be heroic and take back your country. America is with you."

President Trump had warned that American lives could be lost when he launched Operation Epic Fury on Saturday. It was not immediately clear where the service members that were killed or hurt were stationed, as their identities have not been released pending notification of next of kin. They are the first U.S. casualties since the military launched its operation against Iran that killed the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

RELATED STORY | How they got him: Khamenei confirmed dead after CIA tracked Iran's Supreme Leader for months

In addition to the American service members who were killed, at least eight people were killed in Israel after an Iranian rocket struck a village in the central part of the country. Iranian drones have also targeted Gulf Arab states, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

BREAKING: At least eight people have been killed in an Iranian rocket attack Beit Shemesh, a village in central Israel. @scrippsnews pic.twitter.com/6BWGK8q7ZD jasonbellini (@jasonbellini) March 1, 2026

A top Iranian official said the U.S. and Israel "crossed a red line and must pay the price" for killing Supreme Leader Khamenei.

We will deliver such devastating blows that you yourselves will be driven to beg," Irans parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said in a televised address Sunday, according to The Associated Press.

Trump had previously warned Iran against retaliation, saying it would be met with a force that has never been seen before. He said Sunday that nine Iranian ships have been destroyed as part of this operation.

"I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important," he said in a statement. "We are going after the rest They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!"

RELATED STORY | Trumps Iran attack raises legal concerns among Democrats in Congress

Trump also said heavy bombing would continue uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of peace throughout the Middle East and, indeed, the world. The major combat operation, Trump said, is intended to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

With Khamenei dead, a 66-year-old cleric has been chosen to join a three-member council that will govern the country until a new Supreme Leader is appointed. President Trump indicated Sunday that he has agreed to talk with Iran's new potential leadership, but did not give specifics on timing. For now the military operation in the Middle East will continue.

The U.S. and Israel military strikes are hitting close to home for many Metro Detroiters.

Watch Tiarra's report below

Metro Detroit's Arab and Jewish communities react to escalating Middle East conflict with Iran

Nazi Shokoohi, a Wayne resident originally from Iran, said the strikes brought a complicated mix of feelings.

"It was a very emotional day, not only for me but also for many Iranians around the world. It's a mix of happiness, hope, and concern," Shokoohi said.

Shokoohi said she hopes the U.S. and Israel's strikes on Iran will lead to new leadership being implemented in the country.

"We think our voice is heard, and Mr. President Donald Trump, he helps us," Shokoohi said.

Jason Issacson from the American-Jewish Committee shared similar thoughts.

"War is hell, but what was the alternative? The alternative was a continuation of a regime that threatens the region, that oppressed its people," Issacson said.

Imam M.A. Elahi, co-chair of the Imams Council of Michigan, condemned the strikes, saying innocent Iranians are losing their lives.

"They are saying that, 'well, we are targeting the military bases', but we saw that so many schools were attacked," Elahi said.

Elahi also called for an end to the fighting.

"We are also calling for an immediate ceasefire stop this fire, we don't want anybody to be hurt," Elahi said.

I also spoke with Peter Trumbore, a professor and chair of political science at Oakland University, about the potential economic impact of the conflict.

"The more significant and the broader the conflict becomes, I think the greater the impact is going to be," Trumbore said.

Trumbore said the conflict could have a direct impact on gas prices. The concern centers around the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway controlled by Iran. Any disruption to shipping through the strait could tighten global oil supplies.

"I think we will wake up Monday morning and see that gasoline prices have skyrocketed and that the prices of oil have skyrocketed. If Iran, we've seen this in the past, right? Anytime there's been significant conflict in the Middle East, oil prices spike," Trumbore said.

Trumbore added that the world will now have to wait and see what the larger fallout from the conflict will be.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Pittsburgh man is stuck in Dubai and Michigan residents with ties to the region face uncertainty as the US-Israel offensive against Iran enters its second day.

Watch Faraz's report below

US and Israel launch strikes on Iran; Americans stranded as Middle East erupts

More than 24 hours after the United States and Israel launched major daylight strikes on Iran, the Middle East remains in chaos. Iranian counterstrikes have intensified across the region especially following the killing of the country's supreme leader and flight operations across key hubs have been suspended, leaving travelers stranded and families on edge.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the US and Israel launched the strikes aiming to cripple Iran's military and wipe out its nuclear program. Experts say unlike June's overnight raids, this offensive could last for days.

In response, Iran has launched a wave of attacks across the region, targeting Israel and areas near US bases in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.

The latest round of talks between Iran and the US on Thursday ended without a deal, though Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, who served as a mediator, said the talks made significant progress and that a "peace deal is within our reach ... if we just allow diplomacy the space it needs to get there."

To understand the implications and possible fallout, 7 News Detroit's Faraz Javed spoke with Dr. Saeed Khan, associate professor at Wayne State University with 22 years of experience in geopolitics.

"Over the next 24 to 48 hours, I would look at, first of all, what is going to be the American and the Israeli military posture. Is there going to be an escalation? Is there going to be sustained attacks on Iran? And then, of course, taking a look and seeing what are going to be Iranian responses and retaliations," Khan said.

Khan also addressed the danger facing Americans in the region and the disruption hitting travelers with ties to Michigan.

"I don't think that Americans, per se, are necessarily going to be targeted by what's going on in this. They may be, unfortunately, collateral damage depending on the missiles and the attacks. At the same time, as you mentioned, there is going to be tremendous disruption to aviation because at least two of the world's largest airlines, Emirates, which is hubbed in Dubai, Qatar Airways, which is hubbed in Doha, the airspace over Qatar and the UAE have been suspended, particularly for those in the Detroit metro area. There are a lot of people who have ties to the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond, and Doha and Dubai are very, very popular sites for people to use," Khan said.

As soon as the strikes began, neighboring countries closed their airspace leaving travelers like Pittsburgh native Brian Kolowitz stranded. Kolowitz had just wrapped up his second golf trip in the UAE and was preparing to fly home from Dubai International Airport when the attacks began.

"Number of rockets flying from Iran into Abu Dhabi, which is where we at earlier in the week, and those rockets being intercepted over the city and debris falling," Kolowitz said.

I spoke with Kolowitz on Saturday evening as he sat on the plane, watching international news coverage of the strikes unfold.

"You know, because we were still in the plane, I thought we would be able to get out. But as the time went on, we all knew we would not make it today," Kolowitz said.

Kolowitz is now back in his hotel room in Dubai, waiting for further instructions.

"It's a very concerning situation, I think my biggest concern is kind of understanding, how long the situation is going to unfold, and how long I will be stranded," Kolowitz said.

Kolowitz said he has already reached out to US officials for guidance.

"Yes, I left a voicemail with contact information, and right now it's shelter in place," Kolowitz said.

I spoke with Kolowitz again Sunday morning and he remains stranded in Dubai. Flight operations in the UAE are suspended until Monday evening.

The moment is also being felt deeply by members of Michigan's Iranian-American community. Dr. Armand Ash-Rafzadh, a University of Detroit Mercy professor who moved to the US from Iran in 1978, called the moment historic.

"Currently I feel very well, because of the activities that is being conducted by the people inside of Iran. Who are demonstrating for a change," Ash-Rafzadh said.

Ash-Rafzadh said he hopes the upheaval leads to lasting political change in Iran.

"I like the establishment of democracy and freedom in Iran," Ash-Rafzadh said.

He acknowledged, however, that not everyone in Iran shares that view.

"Our point of view is based on democracy and freedom and separation of religion from the government; they want religion to be involved with the government," Ash-Rafzadh said.

With family and friends in the Middle East, Javed is also hearing about continuous missile alert warnings and shelter-in-place advisories being issued to the public. The UAE is considered one of the safest countries in the world, and authorities there are working with the US and other countries to de-escalate the situation as well as keep residents and visitors safe. Channel 7 will continue following developments in the Middle East closely.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The gunman who killed two people at a bar in Texas early Sunday in a mass shooting that left 14 others wounded was wearing a sweatshirt that said Property of Allah, and another shirt with an Iranian flag design, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

The shooter has been identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, the law enforcement official and another person familiar with the matter said. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.

Diagne is originally from Senegal, according to multiple people briefed on the investigation. One of the people told the AP that Diagne came to the U.S. in 2006 and was a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Officers in Austin shot and killed the gunman, who used both a pistol and a rifle to carry out the attack, police said. The FBI said the shooting was being investigated as a potential act of terrorism.

IN OTHER NEWS | Gun rights, sports bans, tariffs key Supreme Court rulings on the horizon

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott hinted that the attack may have been in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and said he has directed the Texas Military Department to activate service members who will work alongside state and federal partners to "safeguard our communities and critical infrastructure."

"This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans," Abbott said in a statement obtained by Scripps News. "To anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure, understand this clearly: Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state."

The suspect drove past the bar several times before stopping and shooting a pistol out the window of his SUV at people on a patio and in front of the bar, said Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis.

The gunman then parked the vehicle, got out with a rifle, and began shooting at people walking in the area before officers who rushed to the intersection shot him, Davis said.

There have been at least two other high-profile shootings in Austins Sixth Street entertainment district within the past five years, including one in the summer of 2021 that left 14 people wounded. Although this weekends shooting doesnt meet the definition of a mass killing, there have been five of those so far this year.

The FBI is investigating whether the shooting early Sunday was act of terrorism because of indicators found on the gunman and in his vehicle, said Alex Doran, the acting agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio office.

Its still too early to make a determination on that, Doran said.

The shooting happened outside Bufords Backyard Beer Garden just before 2 a.m. along Sixth Street, a nightlife destination filled with bars and music clubs and only a few miles from the University of Texas.

The school's president said on social media that some of those impacted included members of our Longhorn family.

Our prayers are with the victims and all those impacted, said university President Jim Davis.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Man arrested after fight with minors during anti-ICE school walkout

The entertainment district has a heavy police presence on weekends, and officers were able to confront the gunman within a minute of the first call for help, Davis said.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the fast response by police and rescuers.

They definitely saved lives, he said.

One of the victims was found in the street between two parked cars. Inside the multi-story bar, there were overturned tables and drinks left behind by fleeing customers.

Another shooting early Sunday at a Cincinnati nightclub and concert venue wounded nine people, police in Ohio said.

All nine had gunshot wounds, but none were non-life threatening, said Adam Hennie, the citys interim police chief.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans Supreme Leader and the driving force behind decades of hostility toward Israel, was killed in a targeted Israeli strike enabled by U.S. intelligence.

The CIA had been tracking Khamenei's movements for months mapping his patterns and identifying locations where he could be reached. On Saturday morning, U.S. intelligence learned he would be attending a high-level meeting with Irans top military and defense officials in central Tehran. That tip opened a narrow window for Israel to act.

RELATED STORY | Trumps Iran attack raises legal concerns among Democrats in Congress

By Sunday, Israel released footage of the strike, showing precision munitions striking the compound. Iranian state television in a stunning move confirmed Khamenei's death.

For Israel, the strike marks the elimination of a figure they considered their greatest foe. Khamenei, who ruled for more than 35 years, oversaw the financing of Hamas, the arming of Hezbollah, and the creation of an anti-Israel military and intelligence network stretching across the Middle East.

Shifting Landscape in Tehran

The death of Khamenei leaves a sudden and uncertain power vacuum. No obvious successor has been named, and analysts say infighting within Irans political and military elite is likely. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) retains both its arsenal and its will to continue Irans policies, but its next leader could redefine or double down on the countrys direction.

Khamenei's removal comes just weeks after massive street protests in Iran, where hundreds of thousands chanted Death to Khamenei in rare public defiance. Those rallies did not bring him down but a joint American-Israeli covert operation did.

A Legacy Built on Destruction

Some leaders are remembered for what they create. Khamenei's legacy may be remembered for what he opposed and what he was willing to destroy. For decades, he shaped Irans foreign and domestic policy to undermine Israel and challenge U.S. influence in the region.

What the Islamic Republic will look like without the man who was the Islamic Republic remains an open and consequential question.

A major attack launched by Israel and the United States killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Donald Trump announced Saturday, confirming an assassination that he said gave Iranians their greatest chance to take back the country but that also put the future of the Islamic Republic in doubt and raised the risk of regional instability.

The strikes opened a stunning new chapter in U.S. intervention in Iran, marking the second time in eight months that the Trump administration had attacked the country during talks over its nuclear program. The reported killing of Khameini after decades in power appeared certain to create a significant leadership vacuum given the absence of a known successor and because the Supreme Leader had final say on all major policies. He led Irans clerical establishment and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard the two main centers of power in the governing theocracy.

In a nationally televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were growing signs that the 86-year-old Khamenei had been killed when Israel struck his compound early Saturday. Shortly after the address, two Israeli officials said Israel had confirmed his death. The officials both spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement and gave no further details.

As reports trickled out about the death, eyewitnesses in Tehran told AP some residents were rejoicing, blowing whistles and letting out ululations.

Strikes followed months of rising tensions

The joint U.S.-Israel operation, which officials say was planned for months, took place Saturday during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan and at the start of the Iranian work week.

As the attack on Iran got underway, Trump urged the Iranian public to seize control of your destiny by rising up against the Islamic leadership. In a video announcing the major combat operations, Trump told Iranians that when we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.

Iranian state media, citing the Red Crescent, on Saturday evening said at least 201 people had been killed and more than 700 injured. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region, and exchanges of fire continued into the night.

About 12 hours after the attacks began, the U.S. military reported no U.S. casualties and minimal damage at U.S. bases despite hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks. It said targets in Iran included Revolutionary Guard command facilities, air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.

Various members of Irans leadership were targeted in the attack. Israel said it killed the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the countrys defense minister. The Israeli military also said its strikes killed the secretary of the Iranian Security Council, a close adviser to Khamenei.

Some of the first strikes on Iran appeared to hit near the offices of Khamenei, the second leader of the Islamic Republic who succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Before Israeli officials confirmed the death, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive as far as I know. He called the attack unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegitimate.

Democrats decried that Trump had taken action without congressional authorization. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the administration had briefed several Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress in advance.

Unsuccessful nuclear talks

Tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region. Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Irans nuclear program, as the country struggles with growing dissent following nationwide protests.

The trigger for Saturdays strikes appeared to be the unsuccessful latest round of nuclear talks on Thursday. They also reflected dramatic changes that have left Irans leadership in its weakest position since the Islamic Revolution nearly half a century ago.

Though Trump had pronounced the Iranian nuclear program obliterated in strikes last year, the country was rebuilding infrastructure that it had lost, and intelligence showed that Iran had developed the capability to produce its own high-quality centrifuges, an important step in developing the highly enriched uranium needed for weapons. Thats according to a senior U.S. official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss Trumps decision-making process.

Israeli and American strikes last June greatly weakened Irans air defenses, military leadership and nuclear program. A regionwide conflict sparked by Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel has left Irans network of proxies across the Middle East greatly weakened. U.S. sanctions and global isolation have decimated Irans economy.

Iran responded to the latest strikes by launching missiles and drones targeting Israel and strikes targeting U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Israels military said Iran fired dozens of missiles at Israel, with many intercepted. Emergency responder Magen David Adom noted 89 lightly injured people.

At least three explosions were heard Saturday evening near the Intelligence Ministry building in northern Tehran, witnesses said, adding that air defense systems had begun operating there. Israels military said it had begun new strikes against missile launchers and aerial defense systems in central Iran.

In southern Iran, at least 85 people were reported killed when a girls school was struck, and dozens more were wounded, the local governor told Iranian state TV.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a U.S. Central Command spokesperson, said he was aware of reports that a girls school was struck and that officials were looking into them.

Irans state news agency IRNA said at least 15 people were killed in the southwest, quoting the governor of Lamerd, Ali Alizadeh, as saying a sports hall, two residential areas and a hall near a school were hit.

Flights across the Middle East were disrupted, and air defense fire thudded over Dubai, the United Arab Emirates commercial capital. Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the UAE capital killed one person, state media said.

Attack was coordinated between Israel and US

Israel said the operation has been planned for months with the United States. Air Force pilots were striking hundreds of targets across Iran, Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said in a statement.

Targets in the Israeli campaign included Irans military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.

Trump, in seeking to justify the military action, claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program, despite asserting last year the program had been obliterated by an earlier round of strikes.

He acknowledged Saturday that there could be American casualties, saying that often happens in war. It was a notable statement from a U.S. leader who swept into office on an America First platform and vowed to keep out of forever wars.

Trump also said he was aiming to annihilate the Iranian navy and destroy regional proxies supported by Tehran. He called on the paramilitary Iranian Revolutionary Guard to lay down arms, saying members would be given immunity or face certain death if they didnt.

Iran had said it hoped to avert a war, but maintained its right to enrich uranium. It did not want to discuss other issues such as its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iran has said it hasnt enriched since June, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites the U.S. bombed. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press have shown new activity at two of those sites, suggesting Iran is trying to assess and potentially recover material.

Trump had threatened military action but held off following Irans recent crackdown on protests spurred by economic grievances that evolved into a nationwide push against the ruling clerics.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency says it confirmed more than 7,000 deaths in the crackdown and is investigating thousands more. The government has acknowledged more than 3,000 killed.

Regional effects

The strikes could rattle global markets, particularly if Iran makes the Strait of Hormuz unsafe for commercial traffic. A third of worldwide oil exports transported by sea passed through the strait in 2025.

Saudi Arabia said Iran had targeted its capital and eastern region in an attack that was repelled. Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom, and three buildings were damaged in the capital, Manama, and Muharraq city by drone strikes and debris from an intercepted missile.

Kuwaits civil aviation authority said a drone targeted the main international airport, injuring several employees. Kuwaits state-run news agency said three troops were injured by shrapnel from strikes that hit Ali Al-Salem air base. Explosions could also be heard in Qatar. Jordan said it dealt with 49 drones and ballistic missiles.

___

Lidman reported from in Tel Aviv. Boak reported from West Palm Beach, Fla. Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press reporters Joe Federman in Jerusalem, Aamer Madhani and Konstantin Toropin in Washington, Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Farnoush Amiri in New York and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show that IRNA reported 40 people were killed in the school strike, without specifying students.

A crowd gathered at a commuter gate at Reagan National Airport on Friday as fog-laden Washington skies caused an hourlong ground stop that backed up passengers hoping to head out from American Airlines' Terminal D.

But soon the already densely packed area swelled even more, as word spread across nearby gates that, of the hundreds of air travelers coming and going, only one among them was accompanied by a U.S. Secret Service detail, along with uniformed local police officers: former President Joe Biden.

Biden, who has rarely made public appearances since leaving office last year, sat, like many of his fellow passengers, awaiting a flight that would take him to Columbia, South Carolina, for an evening event with the South Carolina Democratic Party.

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Passengers whispered and gaped in wonder: Why would a man who for a time was leader of the free world be, like they were, at the mercy of airport travel delays, even as he sat ensconced in his security detail?

Maybe for Biden it made more sense than for some other former presidents. Known for years as Amtrak Joe, Biden as a senator prided himself on becoming arguably the nations biggest Amtrak fan, regularly taking the train home to Delaware rather than taking up residence in Washington. Now, as a former president, he's been spotted riding the rails since, taking selfies with and chatting up his fellow passengers.

On Friday, the vibe was about the same, as Biden seated in the third row of the tiny first class cabin on the commuter jet boarded the flight ahead of other passengers, along with his detail, members of which were spread throughout the plane.

God bless you, sir, one woman said, as she filed past Biden in his window seat, newspaper in his lap.

Thank you for your service, a man said, shaking Biden's hand.

RELATED STORY | If shes shining, hes dimmed: Kamala Harris recounts strained ties with Biden team

The woman who took the aisle seat next to the former president first set down her coffee on the arm rest they shared, deposited a bag in the overhead compartment, then sat down and realized her seatmate was the nation's 46th president.

Biden set his hand on her cup to steady it, then met her gaze with a hello as she took her seat.

I feel like I'm about to cry, the woman said, as they shook hands and, over the course of the next hour, chatted throughout the flight.

Former presidents and their spouses receive lifelong Secret Service protection under federal law, but there are no provisions guaranteeing the elite levels of private travel that were necessary features of their time in office.

Oil markets currently closed for the weekend are set to see price swings next week as the impact from the U.S. and Israeli strikes on oil supplies from the Middle East remains unclear.

Scenarios before the latest conflict with Iran foresaw a quick price spike that fades if the attacks didn't affect oil shipping and infrastructure such as Iranian pipelines and its Kharg island terminal. However, there would be a bigger price spike and longer-lasting impact if oil infrastructure or supplies were interrupted, for instance because of disruption of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

RELATED STORY | Trump announces 'major combat operations' in Iran, reportedly killing hundreds

Oil prices have already risen on war fears. International benchmark Brent crude closed at a seven-month high of $72.87 on Friday.

Iran exports some 1.6 million barrels of oil a day, most of it going to China, where privately owned refineries are less concerned about the U.S. sanctions that prevent Iran from selling its oil elsewhere. If that supply is disrupted, Chinese customers would look elsewhere for oil on the global market, potentially driving up prices.

Another question is around the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil supply pass through each day. Middle East exporters Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates send most of their exports through the strait. However analysts say Iran has no incentive to try to close the strait because it would cut off its own exports and hurt its only big customer, China.

Limited strikes on Irans nuclear program and the Revolutionary Guard that avoid regime change or all-out war could see prices jump $5-$10 based on fear alone, according to Rystad Energy in a prewar scenario.

RELATED STORY | Trumps Iran attack raises legal concerns among Democrats in Congress

A wider war involving Iranian disruption of tanker traffic could see crude push past $90 per barrel and US gas prices well above $3 per gallon, according to another prewar scenario from Clayton Seigle at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. U.S. gas prices averaged $2.98 per gallon last week, according to U.S. motoring club AAA.

Leaders from across Michigan are speaking out after the United States and Israel launched major strikes against Iran on Saturday.

Watch our coverage on the strikes against Iran below:

WSU professor discusses U.S. & Israel strikes against Iran

Related: What we know about the 'major combat operations' in Iran

President Donald Trump announcing that major combat operations were underway and warning the Iranian regime it would face overwhelming force.

Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime," Trump said in a statement early Saturday.

Explosions were reported in Tehran following weeks of U.S. military buildup in the region, including additional aircraft carrier strike groups and cargo and tanker flights. Tensions had escalated amid nuclear talks that Trump suggested had stalled.

Leaders from Michigan are releasing statements about the attacks. You can find the latest statements below.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D)

"Americans woke up this morning to news that the U.S. and Israel have started major military action against Iran.

Unlike the U.S. strike on Iran back in June, this operation doesnt appear to be a one-and-done, so were thinking about the safety of our servicemembers and their families. Likewise, many Michiganders have family in the Middle East who are at risk right now as Iran is striking a number of countries. We pray for their safety as well.

As a former CIA officer who served three tours in Iraq, I have no love lost for the Iranian government. Theyre a state sponsor of terror, responsible for the deaths of Americans. I saw it up close in Iraq and elsewhere.

But issues of war and peace should be treated with the utmost consequence. And President Trump hasnt made his case to the American people. He hasnt laid out the goals or the imminent threat posed by Iran that justifies risking a wider regional war. And he hasnt followed the Constitution and brought this issue before Congress before committing our nation to war.

Most elected leaders including President Trump himself have condemned the rush to war without clear goals in the past. He owes the American people the same thing he was demanding of previous presidents if hes going to put lives at risk. And Congress should come back to Washington to debate these issues."

Sen. Gary Peters (D)

"The President just acknowledged he is risking American lives by dragging us into another war in the Middle East, without Congress approval. Our Constitution requires this check for a reason. The American people dont want to send their sons and daughters to another unjustified forever war across the world.

Iran is a bad actor and we must ensure they never produce nuclear weapons. We had a diplomatic agreement with Iran on nuclear proliferation and President Trump withdrew during his first term without a plan for what comes next because he was playing petty politics. Now, hes sending American servicemembers back to the Middle East to attempt to fix the problems he created.

The Administration must immediately brief Congress on these strikes and its next steps, end goal, and strategy to ensure this protects, not weakens, our homeland security."

Rep. Lisa McClain (R)

"President Trump has taken decisive action against the worlds number one state sponsor of terror - a regime that has targeted American troops and called for death to America. May God bless our Commander in Chief and military leaders with wisdom through this operation and may He keep our troops in His care."

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D)

The American people do not want a war with Iran. Trump is acting on the violent fantasies of the American political elite and the Israeli apartheid government, ignoring the vast majority of Americans who say loud and clear: No More Wars. The Trump Administration and Israeli regimes illegal war of aggression on Iran has already killed dozens of children, and more horrific death and destruction will come. These acts of war threaten to ignite a catastrophic regional war that will make no one safer while unleashing unconscionable suffering.

President Trump will pretend this is about democracy and the rights of the Iranian people. Dont be fooled, Trump does not care about the Iranian people. The Iranian people are not pawns for the interests of foreign powers. Our government has imposed brutal sanctions that have destroyed the Iranian economy and the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. You cannot free people by killing them and destroying their country.

Congress must stop the bloodshed by immediately reconvening to exert its war powers and stop this deranged president. But lets be clear: warmongering politicians from both parties support this illegal war, and it will take a mass anti-war movement to stop it.

Rep. Tim Walberg (R)

"President Trump sought repeatedly to make a deal with the Iranian regime, which has continued to be a destabilizing force in the Middle East. The regime has murdered tens of thousands of innocent civilians in their own streets, supported terrorist groups that have killed thousands of Americans, harmed our servicemembers, and threatened our national security through their pursuit of attaining a nuclear weapon.

Today, the President announced a decisive and strategic operation to restore peace through strength. May God bless the brave men and women of our military who are conducting this critical operation."

Rep, Haley Steven's (D)

President Trump has once again put Americans in harms way without consulting Congressthe latest in a series of grave violations of our Constitution by this Administration. I am praying for the safety of our troops and all the innocent people who have spent today taking refuge in bomb shelters across the region.

For decades, Irans state sponsorship of terror across the globe has led to chaos and unchecked violence. We cannot ignore that an armed and nuclear Iran would bring even more violence and chaos to the Middle East and the entire world. We also cannot ignore the imperative to achieve freedom for the people of Iran, who have bravely spoken out through protest in recent weeks.

At Trumps direction, Speaker Johnson has blocked multiple opportunities to reassert Congress war power authority. Congress and the White House must work together with our allies to achieve peace in the Middle East, stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, end Irans support for terrorist proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, and keep Americans safe at home and abroad.

Michiganders have been clear they do not want more endless wars. Congress must be convened, we must be briefed, and we must follow the Constitution.

As congressional Republicans applauded President Donald Trump for taking decisive action against Iran early Saturday, Democrats said Trump lacks the authority to order broad strikes without Congress approval.

The sharply divided reactions came hours after U.S. and Israeli forces launched airstrikes on Iran. In response, Iran fired missiles at U.S. military bases in the region.

The strikes came a day after the U.S. and Iran held indirect peace talks in Geneva, moderated by Oman. Trump has warned Iran for months of possible military action over concerns the country is developing nuclear weapons.

While many congressional Democrats agreed Iran is a bad actor, they said the situation did not warrant an attack.

RELATED STORY | Trump announces 'major combat operations' in Iran, multiple casualties reported

By the presidents own words, American heroes may be lost, said Sen. Mark Warner, co-chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. That alone should have demanded the highest level of scrutiny, deliberation and accountability, yet the president moved forward without seeking congressional authorization. The Constitution is clear: The decision to take this nation to war rests with Congress, and launching large-scale military operations particularly in the absence of an imminent threat to the United States raises serious legal and constitutional concerns.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said, Iran is a bad actor and must be aggressively confronted for its human rights violations, nuclear ambitions, support of terrorism and the threat it poses to our allies like Israel and Jordan in the region. Still, Jeffries criticized Trump for not seeking congressional approval, warning that troops are being put in harms way.

Republicans largely defended Trumps actions.

Today, our commander in chief took decisive action against the threat posed by the worlds leading proliferator of terrorism, the Iranian regime, said Sen. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. This is a pivotal and necessary operation to protect Americans and American interests. The president has stated the operations goals clearly: thwart permanently the ayatollahs desire to create a nuclear weapon, degrade their ballistic missile force and production capacity, and destroy their naval and terrorism capabilities.

RELATED STORY | Iran retaliates with missile barrage following strikes by US, Israel

The War Powers Act requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of launching military action. The act allows the president to commit troops to battle for 60 days before needing congressional approval. A U.S. source told Scripps News that the "Gang of Eight" members of Congress were briefed on Tuesday by Pentagon officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reached seven of these members prior to Saturday's attack, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed.

A source also said the Pentagon provided notifications to Armed Services Committees early this morning after strikes had commenced.

One Republican who opposed Trumps actions was Rep. Thomas Massie, who, along with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, introduced a bill requiring Trump to seek authorization from Congress. However, because the bill would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a presidential veto, it is unlikely to become law.

I am opposed to this war. This is not America First, Massie said.

Hours after its competitor was punished, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on Friday night that his company struck a deal with the Pentagon to supply its AI to classified military networks, potentially filling a gap created by Anthropics ouster.

The Trump administration on Friday ordered all U.S. agencies to stop using Anthropics artificial intelligence technology and imposed other major penalties, escalating an unusually public clash between the government and the company over AI safety.

President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials took to social media to chastise Anthropic for failing to allow the military unrestricted use of its AI technology by a Friday deadline, accusing it of endangering national security after CEO Dario Amodei refused to back down over concerns the company's products could be used in ways that would violate its safeguards.

RELATED STORY | Trump directs all government agencies to stop using Anthropic's AI tools

But Altman said that the same red lines that were the sticking point in Anthropics dispute with the Pentagon are now enshrined in OpenAIs new partnership.

Two of our most important safety principles are prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems, Altman wrote, adding that the Defense Department agrees with these principles, reflects them in law and policy, and we put them into our agreement.

Altman also said he hopes the Pentagon will offer these same terms to all AI companies as a way to de-escalate away from legal and governmental actions and toward reasonable agreements.

Anthropic had said it sought narrow assurances from the Pentagon that its AI chatbot Claude would not be used for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons. The Pentagon said it was not interested in such uses and would only deploy the technology in legal ways, but it also insisted on access without any limitations.

RELATED STORY | Hegseth reportedly gives Anthropic deadline to allow unrestricted AI military use

No amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position on mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, the company said. We will challenge any supply chain risk designation in court.

The governments effort to assert dominance over the internal decision-making of the company comes amid a wider clash over AIs role in national security and concerns about how increasingly capable machines could be used in high-stakes situations involving lethal force, sensitive information or government surveillance.

Hours after the U.S. and Israel conducted strikes on Iran, Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a first wave of drones and missiles targeting Israel, where a nationwide warning was issued as the military said it was working to intercept incoming Iranian missiles. There was no immediate word on any damage or casualties from the ongoing attack.

U.S. Central Command said there have been no reports of U.S. casualties or combat-related injuries. Damage to U.S. installations was minimal and has not impacted operations, it said.

Israeli police and emergency services said several people were lightly wounded in missile strikes, while the military intercepted many of the incoming missiles.

Israel issued a nationwide warning and put the country on high alert, canceling school and most gatherings across the country.

Qatars Defense Ministry says the military has successfully repelled the second wave of Iranian attacks that targeted several parts of the nation.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, calling them a flagrant violation of its sovereignty. It added that Qatar has been always among the sides calling for a dialogue with Iran.

The Foreign Ministry said that the targeting of Qatar by a neighbor cannot be accepted under any justification or pretext as the gas-rich Gulf nation has always distanced itself from regional conflicts.

Meanwhile, Bahrain said that a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to U.S. Army Central. Explosions could be also be heard in Qatar.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and sirens sounded in Jordan.

RELATED STORY | Trump announces 'major combat operations' in Iran, multiple casualties reported

Iraqi officials also reported a drone strike hit a headquarters of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq, killing two people and wounding three Saturday. The group had earlier threatened to enter the fray should Iran come under attack. An Israeli military official said Israel was not aware of any Israeli strikes on Kataib Hezbollah headquarters in Iraq.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, meanwhile, vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement from the Houthi leadership.

U.S. embassies or consulates in Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Israel posted on social media that they told staffers to shelter in place and recommended all Americans do the same until further notice.

Earlier on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that major combat operations were underway Iran and warned the Iranian regime it would face overwhelming force.

Explosions were reported in Tehran following weeks of U.S. military buildup in the region, including additional aircraft carrier strike groups and cargo and tanker flights. Tensions had escalated amid nuclear talks that Trump suggested had stalled.

President Donald Trump declared Saturday that Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead following U.S. and Israeli strikes, calling it the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.

Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead, Trump wrote in a statement. He said the operation was carried out in coordination with Israel and claimed Iranian leaders were unable to evade U.S. intelligence and highly sophisticated tracking systems.

Earlier Saturday, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel believed Khamenei was among those killed in the strikes. Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei's death hours later.

RELATED STORY | Strikes on Iran could push US gas prices well above $3, analysts warn

Trump also said on Saturday that heavy bombing would "continue uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!"

The United States and Israel launched major strikes against Iran early Saturday, with Trump announcing that major combat operations were underway. He said the objective is to eliminate what he described as imminent threats from the Iranian regime and to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

We are going to destroy their missiles and raise their missile industry to the ground, Trump said. We are going to annihilate their navy They will never have a nuclear weapon.

RELATED STORY | Iran retaliates with missile barrage following strikes by US, Israel

Iran quickly retaliated with explosions reported in Israel and across the Middle East.

In his initial remarks, Trump acknowledged the risks of military action.

The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties, he said. That often happens in war.

He has also appealed to the Iranian people, who have been seen in the streets celebrating Khamenei's apparent death.

"Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves," Trump stated.

Federal prosecutors said Friday they won't appeal a judges ruling that bars them from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

In a letter, Deputy U.S. Attorney Sean Buckley told Judge Margaret Garnett that the government will not ask the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse her decision, clearing the way for a trial beginning in September. His state murder trial is set to start in June.

Garnett last month dismissed a federal murder charge murder through use of a firearm that had enabled prosecutors to seek capital punishment, finding it legally flawed.

She wrote that she did so to foreclose the death penalty as an available punishment to be considered by the jury when it weighs whether to convict Mangione in the December 2024 killing in Manhattan.

The judge, a former Manhattan federal prosecutor appointed to the bench by President Joe Biden, also threw out a gun charge but left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison.

RELATED STORY | A man impersonating an FBI agent tried to get Luigi Mangione out of jail, authorities say

To seek the death penalty, prosecutors needed to show that Mangione killed Thompson while committing another crime of violence. Stalking doesnt fit that definition, Garnett wrote in a 39-page opinion, citing case law and legal precedents.

The ruling disrupted the Trump administrations bid to see Mangione executed for what U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America. It was the first capital case brought by the Justice Department in President Donald Trumps second term.

Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty in the federal and state cases. The state charges also carry the possibility of life in prison. At a recent court hearing, he spoke out against the prospect of back-to-back trials, telling a judge: Its the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.

Thompson, 50, was killed on Dec. 4, 2024, as he walked to a midtown Manhattan hotel for UnitedHealth Groups annual investor conference. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting him from behind. Police say delay, deny and depose were written on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.

Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, was arrested five days later after he was spotted eating breakfast at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles west of Manhattan.

His lawyers have argued that authorities prejudiced his case by turning his arrest into a Marvel movie spectacle, including by having armed officers parade him up Manhattan pier after he was flown to New York, and by publicly declaring their desire to see him executed even before he was formally indicted.

RELATED NEWS | Luigi Mangione's court outburst: 'Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition'

Jury selection in Mangiones federal case is scheduled for Sept. 8, followed by opening statements and testimony on Oct. 13. His state trial is scheduled to begin June 8, but the judge in that case, Gregory Carro, said it could have been pushed back until Sept. 8 if federal prosecutors appealed the death penalty ruling.

In her ruling, Garnett acknowledged that the decision may strike the average person and indeed many lawyers and judges as tortured and strange, and the result may seem contrary to our intuitions about the criminal law.

But, she said, it reflected her committed effort to faithfully apply the dictates of the Supreme Court to the charges in this case. The law must be the Courts only concern.