The Iranian government reported at least 14 deaths and 78 injuries as U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged attacks the same day Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried, according to n-tv.de. The U.S. military said it struck around 90 Iranian military targets in a second night of attacks, while Iran launched retaliatory rocket and drone strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, as reported by n-tv.de.

US and Iran Exchange Attacks Amid Khamenei’s Burial

The U.S. military conducted large-scale strikes, with the Trump administration insisting the operation was a “hit-and-run campaign,” according to 경향신문; the attacks followed previous U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and were described as a “large-scale combat operation” aimed at administration change in Iran. Meanwhile, Iran’s Major Guards launched attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, according to n-tv.de.

Iranian Civilian and Military Damage Reported

Iranian state media reported explosions in several coastal regions and damage to civilian infrastructure, including a major rail line between Tehran and Mashhad that came to a halt, according to n-tv.de. The attacks spread across five provinces, with images showing the destruction; the Iranian government expressed fears of an open war following the U.S. strikes, which came the night before Khamenei’s funeral.

Concerns of Prolonged Conflict

While the U.S. administration insists there is “absolutely no chance of being drawn into a prolonged war,” 경향신문 reported that many fear the situation could escalate if Khamenei is turned into a martyr figure. The military operations took place against the backdrop of Khamenei’s state funeral in Mashhad, marking the end of a political era in Iran — the U.S. and Iran traded fire in a conflict that has raised concerns over a potential long war.