Shoppers at a Middle Eastern market in Yonkers were reeling from the news that the United States and Israel attacked Iran in a joint military mission on Saturday.
Opinions on the unrest in the Middle East was mixed.
"I think the U.S. should mind their business. However, the same as Venezuela, when they captured Maduro, they [the Venezuelans] were suppressed. Now they're living in freedom," said Francesco Billeci, of Yonkers.
President Donald Trump made the announcement on Saturday of "major combat operations" in launched missile attacks. He later revealed that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in the bombings.
Iranian officials confirmed Khamenei's death on Saturday night.
"I'm not a fan of wars, but a bad guy is gone, a terrible guy who's been mistreating his people," said Albert Zihenni, of Pelham. "I'm Lebanese, so he had a direct impact on my country in a negative way and caused a lot of people to die. We're in a better place, I believe, without this dictator."
As the mission that Trump describes as the "heavy and pinpoint" bombing of Iran continues, some Middle Easterners with family still in the region said they'll be watching the situation closely.
"Conflict has always been the thing. Not even with Muslims, not only with Arabs, it's been with everyone all humanity. There's always a conflict no matter who it is," said Aied Khalil, of Yonkers.