#iran

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who served as Iran's supreme leader for nearly four decades, was killed during joint U.S.-Israeli aerial bombardments on February 28. With no designated successor, Iran faces unprecedented political uncertainty as the Islamic Republic enters its most turbulent period since the 1979 revolution.

The U.S. military has used its LUCAS long-range kamikaze drones in combat for the first time during Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The drones, reverse-engineered from Iran's Shahed-136 design, cost just $35,000 each and were deployed by the newly created Task Force Scorpion Strike.

The joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran has entered its second day following confirmation that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in aerial bombardments targeting his compound. Iran has launched retaliatory missile barrages across the Gulf region as the conflict escalates.

President Trump has reportedly directed a second aircraft carrier strike group to ready for deployment to the Middle East as the U.S. military buildup continues amid rising tensions with Iran, though any additional naval power would take weeks to arrive in theater.