Around 50 Israeli jets strike underground military bunker beneath Tehran leadership compound

Tel Aviv: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday said that around 50 fighter jets of the country's Air Force carried out the strike targeting the underground military bunker linked to the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which was used by other senior officials following his and other leaders' deaths last week.

In a post on X, the IDF stated that the bunker in Tehran was dismantled in the strike and also shared visuals related to the strike in the same post.



"~50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets dismantled Ali Khamenei's underground military bunker beneath the Iranian regime's leadership compound in Tehran," the post read.

The development comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory killed its Supreme Leader, Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran.

In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries, targeting American military bases and Israeli assets throughout the region, with Israel also continuing its strikes on Tehran and widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah.

Earlier today, the Qatar Ministry of Defence stated that its air defence forces intercepted a drone targeting the Al-Udeid Air Base, which is a major military hub for the US Central Command.

In a post on X, the Qatari Ministry of Defence said that the Qatar Emiri Air Defence Forces "successfully intercepted a drone attack targeting Al-Udeid Air Base", preventing the drone from reaching its intended target.

Separately, Reuters reported that US military investigators believe it is possible that American forces were responsible for a strike that hit an Iranian girls' school in Minab on Saturday, killing dozens of children.

However, the officials cautioned that the investigation is still ongoing and no final conclusion has been reached, Reuters reported.

Last week on Saturday, US strikes in Iran hit Minab Girls' Primary School in the country's Hormozgan province, killing over 160 and injuring another 100.

According to Reuters, citing two US officials, the assessment remains preliminary and details about the probe - including the type of munition used, the evidence behind the initial assessment, who carried out the strike, or the possible reason for targeting the school - have not yet been determined.