Celebrations erupted from Tehran to Europe while loyalists mourned and a senior official warned that Iran would retaliate against the US and Israel.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was eliminated in an operation in the heart of Tehran, an Israeli security source confirmed. Several bodies were recovered from the bombing site at Khamenei’s compound, including that of the Iranian dictator.

Task Force Scorpion Strike sent the cheap one-way attack system – a near-twin of Iran's own Shahed drone – into action for the first time Saturday as part of the joint US-Israeli assault on Iran.

From Chuck Schumer's call for emergency briefings to Tucker Carlson's blistering rebuke, the American-Israeli operation against Iran has set off a bipartisan firestorm.

Germany, France and the UK said they did not take part in the latest strikes, as Washington argues a "golden opportunity" has emerged to weaken the Iranian regime.