US Uses B-2 Bombers to Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader

Multiple U.S. and open-source accounts describe a long-range nighttime strike campaign in which B-2 Spirit stealth bombers played a central role.

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Türkiye Today reported that U.S. intelligence sources and intercepted air-traffic radio traffic indicate that four U.S. Air Force B-2A Spirit stealth bombers flew a round-trip strike from Whiteman AFB, Missouri, to Iran during the opening night of Operation Epic Fury.

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The Aviationist described four U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman AFB conducting a nonstop round-trip strike mission to Iran and returning to Whiteman as the PETRO41 flight on Feb. 28–Mar. 1.

The War Zone documented that four B-2 Spirit stealth bombers (callsigns PETRO41–44) returning from bombing missions over Iran diverted from Whiteman AFB, Missouri, to Dyess AFB, Texas, due to weather, and reported video showing some of the landings.

CENTCOM and mainstream outlets said the B-2s hit hardened missile sites with 2,000-pound munitions, with CNN noting that B-2 stealth bombers struck Iranian ballistic missile sites using 2,000-pound bombs.

Air & Space Forces Magazine reported the flights were refueled en route by Air Force tankers and landed back in the U.S. at Dyess AFB, Texas.

The Aviationist account that the bombers returned to Whiteman conflicts with The War Zone and Air & Space Forces Magazine reports that the aircraft diverted to and landed at Dyess AFB, Texas.

Several outlets — including U.S., Israeli and Iranian state sources — reported that opening strikes targeted Iran’s political leadership and said Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed.

Those reports immediately produced contradictory accounts and remain contested.

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Upper Michigan's Source described that Iranian state media early Sunday reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major airstrike on his Tehran compound, blaming Israel and the United States.

BBC said it reports that U.S. and Israeli forces carried out a months-long operation that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly announced the development and framed it as deliberate.

Hometown Stations noted that U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian state media said Khamenei, 86, and several family members were killed.

At the same time, some Iranian outlets and a presidential source pushed back.

News24 reported that Iranian state media and a presidential source (IRNA) say both Khamenei and Pezeshkian are alive and 'in good health'.

This underscores the immediate, deep contradiction between accounts.

Reporting from inside Iran and humanitarian organizations described heavy civilian harm and deadly strikes on civilian infrastructure.

“Hungary warned of potential risks to an oil pipeline, raising concerns about possible disruptions”

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Various outlets treated the casualty figures as provisional and, in some cases, disputed.

Bloom Pakistan quoted the Iranian Red Crescent saying at least 201 people were killed and 747 injured after what it described as coordinated US- and Israeli airstrikes across Iran on Saturday.

Ahram Online cited specific incidents in cities and hospitals, saying a school in Abyek (Qazvin province) was struck, killing one student, and noting the Red Crescent totals.

Premium local outlets gave higher local counts for particular strikes, with Premium Times reporting that the death toll from a strike on a girls’ elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan province has risen to 85.

Maktoob echoed that an Israeli strike on an elementary girls’ school in Minab, Hormozgan province killed at least 85 people, mostly children.

Multiple sources flagged that casualty figures and target descriptions were still being investigated.

The strikes triggered immediate, broad regional retaliation and intense air-defence activity, producing both military and civilian consequences.

France 24 reported that U.S. Central Command announced "three U.S. service members killed and five seriously wounded — the first American casualties tied to Iran’s retaliation".

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The Independent described Iranian counter-strikes on Gulf states and Israel and quoted the UAE ministry saying the attack "involved about 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 541 drones".

Gulf and Arab state reporting detailed high interception numbers, with وكالة أنباء البحرين noting that "Of 165 ballistic missiles detected, the UAE reported destroying 152; the remaining 13 fell into the sea".

Republic World summarized the wider exchange that "Iran has vowed retaliation and reportedly fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at US bases in Gulf states and at Israel," illustrating how the strikes escalated into a region-wide exchange.

The political, diplomatic and economic fallout was immediate: governments declared mourning, markets and travel were disrupted, and lawmakers and international organizations called for restraint or new oversight.

“A missile strike at Dubai International Airport on Sunday sent smoke into parts of Terminal 3, sparking panic and injuring 16 people; emergency teams contained the situation, four people received medical treatment, some areas were briefly evacuated, and airport security was increased”

Aaj TV

Hometown Stations reported that "The government declared 40 days of public mourning and a seven‑day national holiday."

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The New Arab said the strikes "produced the region’s largest business disruption since the pandemic: widespread airport and airspace closures, suspended port operations, rattled markets, thousands of stranded passengers, and the postponement of a France‑linked Lebanon‑support conference."

In Washington, congressional efforts to constrain further U.S. military action were already visible — Roll Call noted that "Sen. Tim Kaine filed a bipartisan Senate resolution to bar U.S. forces from engaging in hostilities 'within or against Iran' unless Congress explicitly authorizes it by declaration of war or a specific AUMF."

The U.N. also warned of uncontrolled escalation: Naharnet quoted the secretary‑general saying military action "carries the risk of igniting a chain of events that no one can control."

Markets moved on the news as well — Republic World said the violence "pushed Brent crude up more than 8% to about $79.34 a barrel."