US and Israel Eliminate Khamenei... Middle East Order in Turmoil [US-Iran War]

Iran Retaliates with Strikes on U.S. Bases and Cities
Airspace Closures Spread, Disrupting Flight Routes
Fears of Hormuz Blockade Drive Oil Price Volatility

The United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation targeting Iran on February 28 (local time), announcing that they had eliminated Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader at the apex of Iran’s Islamic theocratic regime. With the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, a key figure in the Middle East, the regional situation has reached a critical turning point.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced at 4:40 p.m. Eastern Time on his social media platform Truth Social, "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead." This came about 15 hours after the United States and Israel began their attack on Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran. Yonhap News

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, a massive explosion occurred around 10 a.m. that day in downtown Tehran due to an Israeli airstrike, with the area where smoke was seen identified as being near Khamenei’s office. The Israeli military stated that it had carried out a so-called “decapitation operation,” conducting precision strikes against Khamenei and other key figures.

The U.S. military simultaneously targeted the command and control facilities, air defense systems, missile and drone launch bases, and military airfields of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) explained that the operation focused on preemptively neutralizing Iran’s military response capabilities.

This is the first time in about eight months that the United States has directly targeted Iranian territory since striking three nuclear facilities in June last year. However, the scale and intensity of the latest attack are assessed to be far broader than those previous strikes.

President Trump had previously emphasized prioritizing diplomatic solutions and continued nuclear negotiations, but he had also kept military options open by deploying large-scale military forces to the Middle East. Negotiations resumed on the 6th of this month, with three rounds of talks held in Switzerland, Oman, and other locations, but it appears that the United States concluded Iran had no intention of abandoning its nuclear weapons program.

According to the Iranian Red Crescent, the airstrikes caused damage in 24 out of Iran’s 31 provinces, resulting in at least 201 deaths and 747 injuries.

Iran responded immediately. The IRGC claimed it launched missiles and drones targeting Haifa and Tel Aviv. It also announced that it had attacked 14 U.S. military bases in the Middle East, including the Al Udeid base in Qatar, Al Salem base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra base in the UAE, the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, and Muwaffaq Salti base in Jordan. In response, the United States countered that it had intercepted most of the hundreds of missile and drone attacks and that there were no U.S. military casualties.

If President Trump's announcement of the Iranian Supreme Leader’s death is ultimately confirmed, this could become a major variable that determines the future direction of the Iranian regime, extending beyond a simple military blow. There is also the possibility of a reconfiguration of internal power dynamics in Iran and retaliatory actions by pro-Iranian groups in the region.

Iranian missile strikes Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo by Reuters, Yonhap News Agency

As the conflict escalates, disruptions have already begun to affect Middle Eastern air routes. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization closed the country’s airspace indefinitely immediately after the airstrikes, and Israel also shut its airspace. Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE also announced airspace closures.

The possibility of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s maritime oil shipments pass, has also emerged. With the IRGC hinting at restricting passage through the strait, concerns are growing over a sharp increase in international oil prices. The United States has reportedly advised merchant ships to avoid the Gulf region. If an actual blockade materializes, it will inevitably have a direct impact not only on shipping and logistics but also on global oil prices.

The international community has also launched an emergency response. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, issued a joint statement emphasizing, “It is crucial to ensure nuclear safety and prevent any action that could lead to further escalation of tensions or undermine the global non-proliferation regime.” They urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint to protect civilians and fully respect international law.

Russia and China strongly criticized the United States and Israel, calling for an immediate halt to military action. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated, “The intentions of the aggressors are clear. They seek to overthrow the government of a country that refuses to submit to their will.” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “grave concern” over the U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran, stressing that “Iran’s national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be respected.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.