Iran launched missile attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab states on Sunday, vowing severe retaliation following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike. The escalation prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to issue stern warnings against further action by Tehran.
Khamenei, 86, was killed at his Tehran office on Saturday, raising questions about the future of the Islamic Republic and heightening concerns over regional stability. Reports described him as a leader “who consistently stood among the people and confronted what officials term global arrogance.”
Trump hailed the strike as an opportunity for Iranians to reclaim their country, describing Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in history” on social media.
In response, Iran’s Cabinet condemned the attack as an unforgivable crime, while the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard threatened its “most intense offensive operation” targeting U.S. and Israeli installations.
“You have crossed our red line and must pay the price,” Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf declared on television. “We will deliver such devastating blows that you will be forced to plead for mercy.”
Trump retorted on social media, warning that any further Iranian action would meet with “a force that has never been seen before.”
Iran’s Retaliation
Following the threat, Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Israel reported dozens of missile launches, many of which were intercepted.
The Magen David Adom rescue service confirmed the death of a woman in the Tel Aviv area after an Iranian missile attack.
The strikes disrupted flights across the Middle East, and 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 caused fires at Dubai’s main port and on the facade of the Burj Al Arab hotel.
AP