Tensions in the Middle East escalated on Sunday as Iran launched a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and Gulf Arab states, vowing severe retaliation following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike.
The killing of Khamenei, aged 86, at his Tehran office on Saturday has sparked widespread uncertainty over the future of the Islamic Republic and heightened fears of regional instability. Officials described him as “a leader who consistently stood among the people and confronted what they term global arrogance.”
U.S. President Donald Trump praised the strike, calling it an opportunity for Iranians to reclaim their country. On social media, he described Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in history.”
In Tehran, Iran’s Cabinet condemned the assassination as an “unforgivable crime,” while the Revolutionary Guard warned of a “most intense offensive operation” targeting U.S. and Israeli facilities.
“You have crossed our red line and must pay the price,” Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said on state television. “We will deliver such devastating blows that you will be forced to plead for mercy.”
President Trump responded with a stern warning on social media, vowing that any further Iranian aggression would be met with “a force that has never been seen before.”
Missile Strikes Disrupt Region
In retaliation, Iran fired multiple missiles and deployed drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Israeli defence forces reported intercepting dozens of missile launches, although at least one woman was killed in the Tel Aviv area by an Iranian missile, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service.
The strikes caused widespread disruption across the Middle East. Air defence explosions were reported over Dubai, the UAE’s commercial hub, continuing into Sunday morning. Shrapnel from one missile reportedly killed a person in the UAE, while debris ignited fires at Dubai’s main port and damaged the facade of the Burj Al Arab hotel.
The attacks have raised global alarm, with nations closely monitoring the volatile situation and urging restraint to prevent further escalation.
