Today in Focus The assassination of Iran’s ayatollah – and fears for a wider conflict
118 snips
Mar 1, 2026 
Patrick Wintour, diplomatic editor at The Guardian and longtime foreign affairs reporter, unpacks the killing of Iran’s supreme leader and its regional fallout. He outlines the strikes, timeline and key targets. He discusses civilian tolls, Iran’s counterattacks, shifting Middle East power dynamics, diplomatic repercussions and the uncertain path ahead for Iran.
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Assassination Is An Extrajudicial Earthquake
- Patrick Wintour called the killing of Iran’s supreme leader an extrajudicial act that overturns established postwar rules of state conduct.
- He described mixed feelings: personal sympathy for victims of the regime but ambivalence about bypassing international legal norms in the strike.
Targets Focused On Leadership And Missile Infrastructure
- Wintour outlined that early strikes hit the supreme leader's compound and senior command centers, producing charred satellite images and the leader's body in the rubble.
- He said attacks also focused on missile bases, IRGC launch pads and senior commanders, shaping the high-value-target strategy.
Civilian Sites Suffered Major Casualties Amid Attribution Dispute
- Wintour reported a devastating strike hit a school and sports hall, killing over 100 people, mostly children, amid disputes over whether it was an attacker bomb or a stray Iranian missile.
- He emphasised contested attribution between Israeli/American munitions and possible IRGC mishap when civilian sites were struck.