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

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 announced that on February 28 (local time), they conducted a large-scale military operation targeting Iran, eliminating Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader at the pinnacle of Iran's Islamic theocratic regime. With the death of the Supreme Leader of Iran, a core nation in the Middle East, the region now stands at a critical turning point.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social at 4:40 p.m. Eastern Time, declaring, "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, has died." This announcement came approximately 15 hours after the U.S. and Israel launched their attack on Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran. Yonhap News

According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, at around 10 a.m. that day, a large explosion occurred in Tehran following an Israeli airstrike, and the area where smoke was seen rising was identified as being near Khamenei's office. The Israeli military stated that it carried out a so-called "decapitation operation," conducting precision strikes against key figures including Khamenei.

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

This marks the first time in about eight months that the United States has directly targeted mainland Iran since its strikes against three nuclear facilities in June last year. However, the scope and intensity of this attack are considered to be much broader than those previous strikes.

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

The Iranian Red Crescent stated that as a result of this airstrike, damage occurred in 24 of Iran's 31 provinces, with at least 201 people killed and 747 injured.

Iran immediately launched a counterattack. The IRGC claimed that it fired 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, the Al Salem base in Kuwait, the Al Dhafra base in the UAE, the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain, and the 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, as President Trump announced, the death of Iran's Supreme Leader is finally confirmed, this could become a major factor affecting not only a simple military blow but also the future trajectory of the Iranian regime. The internal power structure in Iran may be realigned, and there is also a possibility of retaliation by pro-Iranian factions within the region.

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

With the conflict already escalating, disruptions are emerging in Middle Eastern air routes. Iran's civil aviation authority closed its airspace indefinitely immediately after the airstrike, and Israel also closed its airspace. Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE also announced airspace closures.

The possibility of the Strait of Hormuz being blocked-a strait through which about 20% of the world's maritime oil shipments pass-has also emerged. As the IRGC hinted at restricting passage through the strait, concerns are growing over a sharp rise in international oil prices. The United States has reportedly advised merchant vessels to avoid the Gulf region. If the blockade becomes a reality, a direct shock to global shipping logistics and international oil prices will be inevitable.

The international community has also responded with emergency action. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, issued a joint statement emphasizing, "It is essential to guarantee nuclear safety and to prevent any actions that could lead to further escalation or undermine the global non-proliferation regime." They urged, "All parties must exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians, and fully respect international law."

Russia and China strongly criticized the United States and Israel, calling for a halt to military actions. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated, "The intentions of the aggressors are clear: they seek to overthrow the government of a country that refuses to yield to force." China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "China is deeply concerned about the U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran" and stressed that "Iran's national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be respected."

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