The United States said it has destroyed the headquarters of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict.

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the development in a statement posted on X, accompanied by footage showing missiles launched from a US Navy ship striking and demolishing what it described as the Guard’s headquarters in Tehran.

“America has the most powerful military on earth, and the IRGC no longer has a headquarters,” CENTCOM said.

As missile strikes continued to hit Tehran, US President Donald Trump indicated the war could last up to a month, telling the Daily Mail that “it’s always been a four-week process.”

The US-Israeli military campaign reportedly began on Saturday with a bombing that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, with explosions reported in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Israel.

The Pentagon confirmed that three US service members were killed in action and five others seriously wounded, while several sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions.

“Major combat operations continue, and our response effort is ongoing,” the Pentagon said.

Trump reacted hours later, telling NBC News: “We expect casualties, but in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world.”

Iran Strikes Back

Loud explosions rocked Tehran on Sunday as Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced a “large-scale” retaliatory attack targeting installations around the Gulf.

An attack on the central Israeli city of Beit Shemesh reportedly killed at least nine people, with several others missing.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described Khamenei’s killing as a “declaration of war against Muslims,” vowing revenge against those responsible.

Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned: “Today we will hit them with a force that they have never experienced before.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli attacks on Iran “will only escalate in the days ahead.” Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani claimed the joint operation eliminated 40 senior commanders “in one minute.”

The Israeli military announced the mobilisation of around 100,000 reservists and heightened readiness across multiple fronts.

Iran’s retaliatory strikes extended to Gulf states. Oman confirmed drone attacks on its commercial port of Duqm, injuring a foreign worker. Maritime security agencies also reported attacks on three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran declared the strategic waterway closed.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed to have targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, but the Pentagon dismissed the claim, stating the missiles “didn’t even come close.”

Trump said US strikes had sunk nine Iranian naval vessels and partially destroyed the IRGC navy headquarters.

Britain urged its citizens in the Gulf region to shelter in place, while US diplomatic missions in Jordan and Bahrain issued security advisories following damage to property in the region.

In Iran, the Red Crescent reported that 201 people were killed and hundreds injured in the strikes. Among those confirmed dead were Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Khamenei, and General Mohammad Pakpour, head of the Revolutionary Guards.

Question of Succession

Following confirmation of Khamenei’s death, both celebrations and pro-government protests were reported in Tehran, with some demonstrators chanting “Death to America!”

Iran announced that Ayatollah Alireza Arafi would join President Pezeshkian on an interim leadership council while a permanent successor is chosen.

While some residents reportedly welcomed the change, others expressed fear and uncertainty about the country’s future amid deepening regional conflict.

“I don’t know what will happen in the future, but it’s not a good future for us Iranians,” one resident said.