Authorities in Iran are preparing to place the body of the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the Grand Mosalla Mosque of Tehran, where thousands of mourners are expected to gather to pay their final respects, according to Iranian state media.
The Grand Mosalla complex in Tehran is one of the capital’s largest venues for state and religious ceremonies. Iranian authorities have planned a three-day mourning period following Khamenei’s reported death in a joint military strike by United States and Israel. Large crowds of grieving citizens are expected to attend the tribute ceremonies.
According to Iranian protocols, the death of a Supreme Leader is followed by a formal farewell ceremony and a large public funeral procession. Amid the mourning preparations, Iran issued a strong warning on Thursday, stating that if the United States and Israel attempt to overthrow the Islamic Republic’s government, Tehran could target Israel’s Dimona Nuclear Research Center.
The warning came after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly said that even if a new Iranian leader is appointed, he could still become a potential target.
Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces said Iran had launched another ballistic missile attack toward Israel. Air raid sirens were activated across central Israel, the Jerusalem area, and parts of the West Bank.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it had begun the 19th phase of its combined missile and drone offensive under the operation named “True Promise-4.” According to the IRGC, the attacks were launched using the code phrase “Ya Hasan ibn Ali” and targeted what it described as “occupied territories” and American military bases.
Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported that the strikes were carried out in response to what Tehran called “unprovoked attacks” by Israel and the United States.
The IRGC also claimed it had destroyed more than seven advanced American and Israeli radar systems, saying the strikes had effectively “blinded” their surveillance networks. Iranian officials further claimed that missiles struck areas near Israel’s Defense Ministry complex in Tel Aviv and the Ben Gurion International Airport.
According to Iranian sources, continuous missile and drone strikes triggered air-raid sirens for hours in several Israeli regions, forcing civilians to take shelter. Iranian officials also warned that attacks could become more intense and widespread in the coming days.
The conflict in West Asia has now entered its sixth day, raising fears of a broader regional war. U.S. officials have indicated that their military campaign has “only just begun,” suggesting the confrontation could last longer than initially expected.
