The U.S.
launches a military operation against Iran.
Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.
On State of the World,
we'll bring you the latest on the operation as well as reaction from the region and around the globe.
Listen to State of the World on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.
Explosions and plumes of black smoke are rising from the Iranian capital for the second straight day.
NPR's Kerry Kahn reports the latest attack comes a day after the country's supreme leader was killed in coordinated airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel.
Multiple residents in the Iranian capital told NPR directly they heard the explosions early Sunday local time.
Israel's military says it is striking targets belonging to,
quote, the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran.
The Israeli Air Force conducted large-scale strikes, it says,
to establish aerial superiority and to, quote, pave the path to Tehran.
It published one video showing strikes obliterating four large blocks of buildings as cars whiz by.
The Iranian state news agency announced the killing of the 86-year-old supreme leader hours earlier.
Iran has vowed to retaliate and has sent missiles and drones to neighboring countries.
Britain's defense minister says Iranian missiles were fired towards its troops in Cyprus and in Bahrain.
Carrie Khan, NPR News, Istanbul.
The European Union is holding emergency meetings to assess the growing conflict in the Middle East.