By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Tehran early Sunday, intensifying a rapidly escalating conflict with Iran a day after the targeted killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran responded with renewed missile barrages across the region, widening the confrontation and rattling global markets already bracing for economic fallout.
The assassination of Khamenei — the most powerful figure in Iran for more than three decades — has plunged the Islamic Republic into its most profound crisis since the 1979 revolution.
As explosions echoed across Tehran and air defenses lit up the night skies over Gulf capitals, a temporary Iranian leadership council announced it had assumed the Supreme Leader’s duties, seeking to project stability amid mounting internal unrest and external threats.
Escalation Across the Region
Israeli officials said the latest strikes were part of a sustained campaign to degrade Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. The Israeli military claimed it was working to secure air superiority over Tehran in what it described as the largest aerial operation in its history, involving hundreds of fighter jets and coordinated intelligence assets.
Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, said the campaign would continue “for as long as necessary.”
Iran retaliated within hours. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched missiles and drones at Israeli targets and struck U.S. and British-linked oil tankers in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping data showed hundreds of vessels dropping anchor in nearby waters, awaiting clarity as traders anticipated sharp spikes in oil prices.
The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow waterway through which roughly 20% of global oil supplies pass — was effectively closed, amplifying fears of a supply shock that could reverberate through energy markets worldwide.
Casualties Mount
The conflict has already claimed lives on multiple fronts. Israeli emergency services reported nine fatalities in the town of Beit Shemesh following Iranian missile strikes. The United Arab Emirates said three people were killed in attacks on its territory, and Kuwait confirmed one death.
The United States military reported its first casualties since the campaign began, with three service members killed and five seriously wounded in regional attacks. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that further retaliation would be met with overwhelming force, declaring on social media that U.S. forces had already destroyed nine Iranian warships.
Power Vacuum in Tehran
Inside Iran, the death of Khamenei has created an unprecedented leadership vacuum. President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that a temporary leadership council — composed of himself, the head of the judiciary and a senior member of the powerful Guardians Council — would assume the responsibilities of the Supreme Leader until a formal succession process can be completed.
Khamenei, 86, had ruled since 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. As Supreme Leader, he held ultimate authority over Iran’s armed forces, judiciary and foreign policy, shaping decades of confrontation with the United States and Israel.
While the constitution provides for the Assembly of Experts to select a new Supreme Leader, analysts say the real balance of power lies with the IRGC, which could exert decisive influence over the succession process.
Oman’s foreign ministry said Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had indicated Tehran was open to “serious efforts” at de-escalation, though no formal talks have been announced.
A Divided Iran
Scenes inside Iran reflected a nation deeply divided. State television showed thousands of mourners dressed in black, weeping and chanting in Tehran squares. Yet verified social media videos captured celebrations in other cities, where some Iranians cheered, danced in the streets, and toppled statues associated with the ruling establishment.
Khamenei had authorized a sweeping crackdown on anti-government protests earlier in the year, during which thousands were reportedly killed. His death appears to have exposed long-simmering fault lines between hardline loyalists and citizens weary of clerical rule.
Global Repercussions
The conflict has triggered shockwaves across industries from aviation to energy. Major Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai — the world’s busiest international travel hub — remained closed amid ongoing airstrikes, causing widespread flight cancellations and stranding travelers worldwide.
Oil markets were poised for volatility as trading resumed Monday, with analysts predicting steep price increases if the Strait of Hormuz remains shut for more than a few days. Higher fuel costs could ripple through global supply chains and intensify inflationary pressures in major economies.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Sunday showed that only about one in four Americans support the strikes, underscoring the political risks for Trump ahead of midterm elections. Rising gasoline prices could further test public support if the crisis drags on.
International Reaction
Global leaders reacted swiftly. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Khamenei’s killing as a “cynical murder,” while China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi described it as a “blatant killing.” Protests erupted among Shi’ite communities in neighboring Pakistan and Iraq, where demonstrators clashed with security forces near U.S. diplomatic facilities.
As Israel presses forward with its aerial campaign and Iran vows continued retaliation, the region stands at a crossroads.
The removal of a leader who shaped Middle Eastern geopolitics for more than a generation has opened a chapter fraught with uncertainty — not only for Iran’s future but for global security and economic stability.
Whether this confrontation leads to regime transformation, prolonged war, or fragile diplomacy remains unclear. For now, the Middle East is bracing for what could become one of the most consequential conflicts in decades.
Source Reuters
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