Mojtaba Khamenei Was Injured on Day One of Operation Epic Fury, Officials Confirm
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded in his legs on the very first day of the U.S.-Israeli strikes that launched Operation Epic Fury, according to a bombshell report from The New York Times citing both Iranian and Israeli officials. The revelation, published on March 11, explains why the 56-year-old son of the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not appeared in public or on video since being appointed to the most powerful position in the Islamic Republic.
The injury adds a dramatic layer to an already unprecedented situation: Iran’s wartime leader is governing from the shadows, wounded and invisible, even as his country absorbs devastating strikes from the world’s most powerful military coalition.
Iranian state television acknowledged the injury indirectly on Monday, referring to Mojtaba Khamenei as a “Jaanbaz of Ramadan War” — a term meaning “one who risks their life” that carries deep significance in Iran’s revolutionary culture. The son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly clarified Wednesday that Khamenei is “safe and sound,” but the Supreme Leader’s continued absence from public view has fueled intense speculation about the severity of his condition.
Day 12: The War by the Numbers
As Operation Epic Fury enters its twelfth day, the scale of the conflict continues to expand. Here’s where things stand as of March 11, 2026:
U.S. and Coalition Forces:
- 7 U.S. service members killed in action, according to CENTCOM
- 140 U.S. troops wounded, the Pentagon revealed on March 10
- Over 3,000 targets struck across Iran, including missile sites, drone factories, naval installations, and IRGC headquarters
- The Shahed Aviation Industries Production Facility in Isfahan — which manufactures the Shahed-136 and Shahed-129 drones — has been confirmed destroyed via satellite imagery
- 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels destroyed in the Strait of Hormuz
- Costs have soared past $9 billion
Iranian Forces:
- Iran has fired over 500 ballistic missiles since the war began, according to Fars News Agency
- Iranian strikes have hit Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, and even a UK RAF base in Cyprus
- Iran’s UN ambassador claims over 1,300 people killed and nearly 10,000 civilian sites hit, including 8,000 residential homes
- The U.S. embassy in Riyadh suffered damage from an Iranian drone strike
A Wounded Leader Running a War He Inherited
The BBC has described Mojtaba Khamenei as a leader who has “never been tested” and now faces “an existential battle.” The Atlantic called him potentially “the most dangerous man in the world.”
Unlike his father, who spent 36 years consolidating power as Supreme Leader, Mojtaba was thrust into the role under the worst possible circumstances. His father was killed in the opening salvo of the joint U.S.-Israeli operation on February 28. The Assembly of Experts — Iran’s clerical body responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader — moved with unusual speed to appoint the younger Khamenei just over a week later.
President Trump reacted sharply to the appointment: “I’m not happy,” he told Fox News’ Trey Yingst. “I don’t believe he can live in peace.”
Meanwhile, inside Iran, the response has been mixed. Protesters who took to the streets in the December 2025–January 2026 uprising — which was brutally crushed by the regime — have been heard shouting “Death to Mojtaba!” from their apartments. For many Iranians, a Khamenei dynasty represents the worst possible outcome: a hardline regime becoming even harder.
Most Americans Oppose the War
As the military operation grinds on, public opinion at home is turning against it — a notable departure from the early days of previous American military engagements.
A Marist poll found that 56% of Americans oppose or strongly oppose U.S. military action in Iran. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed support as low as 27%. Even a Fox News poll — typically the most favorable to the administration — showed the country split at 50-50.
Perhaps most striking: a Quinnipiac University poll found that 74% of voters oppose sending ground troops into Iran, including 52% of Republicans. Only 20% support a ground invasion.
“Voters are unenthusiastic about the air attack on Iran and there is overwhelming opposition to putting American troops on Iranian soil to fight a ground war,” said Quinnipiac polling analyst Tim Malloy.
The numbers represent a historic break from past conflicts. As The New York Times noted, unlike the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and even the Gulf War — which all enjoyed majority support in their opening days — the Iran campaign has faced opposition from the start.
Europe’s Uncomfortable Position
The war is also creating deep fissures among America’s NATO allies. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the Italian Senate on Wednesday, March 11, delivering a pointed message: while acknowledging that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, she stated flatly that Israel and the United States “acted outside international law” and that “Italy is not at war and will not enter one.”
Meloni’s speech reflects a broader European dilemma. As The New York Times reported, leaders “from London to Rome and beyond are facing diplomatic headwinds and criticism at home as they take part in a conflict they did not seek.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has tried to thread the needle, saying Europe is “supportive” of the U.S. strikes while insisting that “NATO is not involved” — though he added the alliance “will defend every inch” of its territory. That distinction has become increasingly important after Iranian drones struck the UK’s RAF base in Cyprus, raising questions about whether Article 5 — NATO’s collective defense clause — could be triggered.
Italy has responded by deploying naval vessels to protect Cyprus from further Iranian strikes, while France’s Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group has repositioned in the Mediterranean.
What Comes Next?
The House of Representatives voted last week to allow Operation Epic Fury to continue, defeating a war powers resolution that would have required the president to withdraw forces. Trump has described the conflict as potentially “short-term,” but military analysts are increasingly skeptical.
With Iran’s new Supreme Leader wounded and invisible, its missile stockpile degraded but not eliminated, oil shipping in the Strait of Hormuz at a near standstill, and U.S. casualties mounting, the conflict shows no signs of a quick resolution.
The question hanging over Washington, Tehran, and every capital in between: What does “victory” look like — and who gets to define it?
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.