Iran Launches 'Bloody Retaliation' After Khamenei's Death... Middle East Turns into Battlefield (Comprehensive) [US-Iran Airstrikes]

Oil Tanker Hit Near Strait of Hormuz; Four Injured and Forced to Evacuate
U.S. Bases, Airports, and Luxury Hotels Struck in Succession; Civilian Casualties Widen

After the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, due to airstrikes by the United States and Israel, Iran launched large-scale missile and drone retaliatory attacks against U.S. military bases and key infrastructure across the Middle East. These attacks are unfolding on multiple fronts, resulting in civilian casualties and causing the de facto paralysis of Middle Eastern air routes, a global aviation and logistics hub, with repercussions spreading worldwide.

On July 4, 2025, in Tehran, Iran, Abdollahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, attended a memorial service mourning Major General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared in a statement on the 1st that it would initiate "the largest retaliatory operation in history." According to Iran's state broadcaster, the main targets included 27 U.S. military bases in the region, as well as Israeli military headquarters and defense industry complexes.

Indeed, from the morning of that day, explosions were reported in major U.S. military bases and cities across the Middle East, including Haifa and Tel Aviv in Israel, Al Udeid in Qatar, Al Salem in Kuwait, Al Dhafra in the UAE, and the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. There were reports that three soldiers were injured in the attack on the U.S. base in Kuwait. However, the Associated Press reported that, despite hundreds of counterattacks, there were no U.S. military casualties and the damage to the bases was minimal. In Israel, it was reported that 89 people suffered minor injuries, including incidents where missiles landed in residential areas of Tel Aviv.

Missile launch during a military exercise conducted in southern Iran, released on February 17, 2026. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Near the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran had announced a blockade, civilian vessels were attacked. The Palau-flagged oil tanker Skylight was struck near the port of Khasab, Oman, injuring four crew members. It was confirmed that this vessel had previously been subject to U.S. Treasury Department sanctions.

On Sunday, March 1, 2026, at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the airport was closed, Emirates Airlines aircraft were parked at the airport. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Aviation logistics were also directly hit. Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Airports suffered drone and shrapnel attacks, resulting in damage to parts of the terminals and casualties among staff and passengers. As a result, the function of Middle Eastern hub airports was paralyzed, with Emirates Airlines, the world's largest international carrier, suspending operations indefinitely. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority stated that there are now more than 20,000 passengers stranded at the airports.

Smoke is rising in Tehran, which was bombed on the 28th of last month (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News.

The Iraqi government declared three days of national mourning in response to Khamenei's death and defined the current situation as "an overt act of aggression." The Palestinian militant group Hamas also expressed gratitude for Khamenei's previous military support and emphasized that the United States and Israel bear full responsibility.

On the other hand, Russia, Iran's closest ally, adopted a lukewarm stance. When Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested support, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov merely offered a general response, stating that Russia "condemns the attack and is prepared to seek a peaceful resolution." Experts pointed out that Russia is reluctant to intervene on another front given the war in Ukraine and that the bilateral treaty between the two countries does not include provisions for mutual military support.

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