The deaths weren’t just symbolic—they were surgical. The head of the Revolutionary Guards. The architect of Iran’s missile programme. The chief of military intelligence. The coordinator of national defence. Gone. One by one, the core of Khamenei’s advisory ring has been eliminated, shattering the command-and-control structure he built over three decades.

Air India faced disruptions with flight cancellations, including the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick route, due to aircraft unavailability stemming from airspace restrictions in West Asia and intensified safety checks following a recent Dreamliner crash. Nine international flights were grounded, primarily involving Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, due to these factors and a snag with a Boeing 777.

Tensions escalate as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declares “the battle begins” following threats from US President Trump. Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting retaliatory airstrikes in Tehran and Karaj. Israel’s military campaign aims to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.