The United States and Israel have launched a large-scale military campaign against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and attacking nearly 2,000 targets across the country since Saturday. The operation, which Washington justifies as a pre-emptive measure to prevent imminent threats and curb Iran's nuclear program, has triggered a severe escalation, with Tehran retaliating with missile and drone barrages against Israel and U.S. assets throughout the Persian Gulf. The widening conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical channel for global energy transit, and drawn in regional actors, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, raising concerns of a broader, more devastating war.
Iran's response has been swift and geographically dispersed. Its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims to have total control of the Strait of Hormuz after warning ships against entry. Retaliatory strikes have targeted Israel, U.S. military bases in Qatar and Kuwait, the U.S. consulate in Dubai, and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have all reported intercepting missile and drone salvos. In Lebanon, Hezbollah has launched rockets at Israel in response to Khamenei's death, prompting Israeli counter-strikes near Beirut. The Pentagon has confirmed U.S. troop casualties from a drone attack in Kuwait. Iranian state media reported Khamenei's death on Sunday, with U.S. President Donald Trump confirming the U.S. worked closely with Israel to target the leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader's son and a potential successor, reportedly survived the initial attacks.
The international community's reaction has been fractured. China, a strategic partner of Iran, is navigating a delicate diplomatic position, calling for restraint while balancing its deep economic ties with Gulf states. Beijing has offered diplomatic support to Tehran but no military assistance, mirroring its stance in previous crises. European allies are divided; Spain refused to allow the U.S. to use its military bases for the attacks, prompting a threat from President Trump to cut off all trade. The United Kingdom has offered limited support by pre-deploying military assets to the region, while Italy is considering sending air defense systems to aid Gulf nations. The Vatican’s top diplomat condemned the strikes as a “preventive war” that undermines international law.
In Washington, the conflict is testing the limits of presidential authority. Lawmakers are set to vote on a war powers resolution to curb Trump's ability to continue hostilities without congressional approval, though the measure is unlikely to overcome a presidential veto. The legality of the strikes under both U.S. and international law has been questioned by legal experts, who argue the actions may exceed the president’s constitutional authority and violate the United Nations Charter. The conflict has also revealed cracks within Trump’s political base, with some supporters expressing unease over a potential new Middle East quagmire.
The bombardment has had a significant humanitarian and cultural toll. The Iranian Red Crescent has reported 787 people killed in the strikes. In Tehran, the attacks damaged the Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, from the shockwaves of nearby blasts. The conflict also poses a grave threat to political prisoners in Iran, with human rights groups fearing the regime could use the war as a pretext to execute opponents held in facilities like Evin prison.
Looking ahead, the situation remains volatile. The appointment of a successor to Khamenei is a critical next step for Iran, which has vowed that a decision will be made at the “earliest opportunity”. The duration of the military campaign is unknown, though President Trump has suggested it could last for weeks. The immediate future will be shaped by the potential for further military escalation, the stability of the Iranian regime, and the long-term consequences for global energy markets and regional alliances.
Yasir Rai
