Head of Iran‍‍`s Revolutionary Guard killed in airstrikes, state media reports

Iranian state media reported on Sunday that senior military and security figures were killed in joint US and Israeli airstrikes, deepening the crisis following claims of the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
 

According to state-run IRNA, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Maj Gen Mohammad Pakpour, was among those killed. 

Pakpour had taken command after his predecessor was killed during the June conflict with Israel. 

Also reported dead was Ali Shamkhani, a veteran power broker and former senior security adviser, who had earlier been wounded in the fighting.
Amid the turmoil, Iranian authorities said a temporary governing council has been activated under constitutional provisions to manage state affairs following Khamenei’s reported death. 

The council includes the sitting president, the head of the judiciary and a senior cleric chosen by oversight bodies. 

Iranian law requires the Assembly of Experts to move quickly to select a new supreme leader.
 

Tensions spread beyond Iran as debris from aerial interceptions caused fires in Dubai, including at Jebel Ali Port, one of the world’s busiest shipping hubs. 

Dubai authorities said emergency teams brought the blazes under control, while several sites, including parts of the Palm Jumeirah area and facilities near the international airport, sustained damage.

Four airport workers were reported injured.
 

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that it was preparing what it described as its “most intense offensive operation” in response to the latest developments. In separate statements, the Guard vowed a “severe and regret-inducing punishment” against Israel and US targets, while large crowds in Iranian cities raised black flags in mourning.
 

The escalating conflict has also disrupted global trade. 

Major shipping firm CMA CGM instructed vessels in and around the Persian Gulf to seek shelter and suspended transit through the Suez Canal, rerouting ships via the Cape of Good Hope due to security concerns.
 

As regional tensions surge and military threats intensify, international observers warn the situation risks spiralling further, with no clear path yet toward de-escalation.