"Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Ministry of Defence in Sofia on Friday to protest ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran and to demand that the government not renew the agreement permitting the use of US military bases in Bulgaria. Footage shows protesters chanting slogans and holding placards and banners reading 'No to the war against Iran!', 'Today you give our sky, tomorrow you will ask for our children,' and 'Bulgaria says no to war.' "Planes take off from the Bulgarian airport, refuelling fighter jets that bombed children, destroying schools", said protester Petar Yordanov. Some protesters expressed concern over Bulgaria's long-standing joint military commitments with Washington. "Bulgaria has been an occupied country for 20 years. It has been occupied since the moment the agreement for the deployment of American military bases here was signed," shared a protester. "There should be nothing American here - no base, no embassy, nothing. Wherever they have set foot, wherever the American boot has passed, it brings only war and destruction under the facade of democracy," added another. Protester Kristian Velinov argued that the US is 'unceremoniously ruled by Israel' and that international order is only respected when it benefits the two nations. Another demonstrator expressed concern over national security, adding, "They keep telling us that Russia is a threat, without Russia threatening us. Now we are in Iran's crosshairs without wanting it." The Bulgarian government said 15 US aircraft, including KC-135 refuelling tankers, stationed at Sofia Airport are not connected to active combat missions against Tehran. The protests follow joint airstrikes launched by Israel and the United States across Iran beginning February 28. Iranian state television later reported that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes on Saturday. Iranian officials described the killing as a turning point, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed retaliation, saying 'this great crime will not go unpunished,' and later announced 'widespread missile and drone attacks' targeting Israel and US assets in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait."