Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel early Monday, hours after the United States and Israel confirmed the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a coordinated military operation. The strikes targeted multiple locations within Israel, prompting a response from the Israeli military against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, according to reports from multiple sources.
The operation to eliminate Khamenei, who had served as Supreme Leader since 1989, was announced by former U.S. President Donald Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump characterized the action as a necessary step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and destabilizing the region. “An Iranian regime armed with long range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American,” Trump stated, urging the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to surrender.
The strikes that killed Khamenei also resulted in the death of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to Trump. The U.S. President claimed 48 leaders had been killed in the operation, which he described as “moving along rapidly.”
In response to Khamenei’s death, Iran’s IRGC pledged revenge, launching attacks on 27 bases in the Middle East where U.S. Troops are stationed. Iran also declared retaliatory strikes against Israel and U.S. Assets in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman. These actions have led to several countries closing their airspace, exacerbating regional instability.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced an emergency meeting of foreign ministers to discuss the escalating crisis. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The European Union’s 27 member states convened emergency talks following a United Nations Security Council meeting held late Saturday.
Hezbollah, a key ally of Iran, claimed responsibility for launching missiles and drones towards Israel in retaliation for Khamenei’s killing and what it described as continuous Israeli violations against Lebanon. Explosions were reported in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, following Israeli strikes.
Following Khamenei’s death, Iran has formed an interim council to oversee the transition of power, though the composition and authority of this council remain unclear. Iran has also begun a 40-day mourning period. The future of Iran’s nuclear program and its regional policies are now uncertain, with analysts divided on whether the current establishment will collapse in the wake of Khamenei’s death.
As of Monday morning, the situation remains fluid, with ongoing exchanges of attacks and heightened tensions throughout the Middle East. The U.S. And Israeli governments have not issued further statements beyond Trump’s initial announcement, and the Iranian interim council has yet to publicly outline its plans for the future.
