Nayera Abdallah

Funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran drew millions, with his three sons attending while his designated successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, was absent due to injuries reportedly sustained in the US-Israeli airstrike that killed his father. Iran plans a week of large funeral processions, including transporting his remains to Shi'ite sites in Iraq and several Iranian cities. A newly agreed ceasefire pauses the four-month conflict, which Iranian authorities frame as both economically beneficial and a strategic victory.

Three of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s sons attended his funeral in Tehran, while his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, remained absent amid reports of severe injuries sustained during U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that killed much of the family. Massive public mourning ceremonies continue across Iran and will extend to Iraq, as the government highlights both its resilience and military actions during the recent war. A ceasefire with Washington includes economic concessions such as asset unfreezing and sanctions waivers. Senior Iranian political leaders joined the funeral rites as authorities prepare large processions involving millions over the coming days.

Casualty figures across the Middle East continue to rise following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory attacks. Rights groups and official sources report thousands killed in Iran, significant fatalities in Lebanon including civilians, soldiers and Hezbollah fighters, and additional deaths across Iraq, Israel, the United States, Gulf states and other regional countries. Various military personnel and civilians have been affected by drone strikes, missile attacks, crashes and cross‑border fire as hostilities expand across multiple fronts.

More than 2,000 people have been killed since US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a widening regional conflict, with Iran reporting up to 1,332 fatalities and Lebanon confirming 687 deaths from Israeli attacks. Additional casualties include deaths in Israel, Iraq, the US military, several Gulf states, Syria, and the first French fatality in Iraq. No resolution appears imminent as conflicting signals from the US leadership continue amid escalating violence.

A series of maritime attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz since 28 February has targeted multiple tankers, cargo vessels and support ships as conflict escalates between the US, Israel and Iran. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that all ships in the area are potential targets, while the US has destroyed several mine‑laying vessels. Multiple ships flagged across various nations have been struck by projectiles, explosives or drones, causing fires, evacuations and at least one death. The incidents have disrupted Gulf port operations, raised global oil prices and heightened regional tensions.

Casualty figures from the US-Israel military campaign against Iran detail deaths across the region, including more than 1,200 in Iran, multiple fatalities in Israel, the United States, and Lebanon, and additional deaths reported in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the UAE, Syria, and Iraq, reflecting the widening regional impact of the conflict.

Two adjacent four‑storey buildings collapsed in Fez, killing at least 19 people and injuring 16. Authorities launched search and rescue operations as reports indicated the structures had shown cracks for some time without preventive action. The incident occurred amid broader frustration in Morocco following recent protests over poor living conditions and public services, which escalated into unrest across several regions.

Four members of a Chinese family arriving from Wuhan were confirmed as the first coronavirus cases in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East, with all in stable condition under medical observation. Global case numbers continued to rise, prompting airlines to reduce flights to China. The Gulf Cooperation Council convened in Riyadh to coordinate regional prevention efforts as additional cases were reported internationally.