US-Israel Airstrikes on Iran: Supreme Leader Khamenei Killed as Regional War Ignites
Coordinated strikes targeting Iran’s military and political core trigger a cascade of retaliation across the Gulf and Lebanon, raising the specter of a total regional collapse.
The Middle East has entered a state of acute volatility following coordinated US-Israel airstrikes on Iran carried out on Saturday, Feb. 28. The operation, which followed a series of inconclusive peace negotiations, targeted the highest echelons of the Islamic Republic’s political and military leadership.
Confirmed reports indicate that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, was killed in the attacks. Several high-ranking commanders of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also perished.
The assault intensified this morning as Israeli missiles struck the building housing the Assembly of Experts—the influential body tasked with appointing the next supreme leader—effectively attempting to decapitate the Iranian state’s succession mechanism.
Iran’s response was swift and expansive. A barrage of missiles and drones has rained down across the Gulf, striking U.S. military installations and critical oil infrastructure. Civilian centers in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia—specifically around Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE—have reported significant damage to transportation hubs and residential areas.
The conflict has already spilled over into Lebanon. Following a year of alleged Israeli ceasefire violations, Hizballah launched a massive missile volley into Israel in retaliation for Khamenei’s death. Israel has responded with devastating bombardments throughout Lebanese territory.
As the U.S. and Israel continue their air campaign, civilian casualties are climbing by the hundreds. While President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have voiced a desire for a “short war,” geopolitical analysts warn that such a strategy is dangerously reductive.
Could the removal of a single leader truly dismantle the Iranian political structure, or will it only accelerate the cycle of violence? At what point does a “short war” become an irreversible regional catastrophe?
The immediate outcome of these strikes is likely to be the profound immiseration of the Iranian people, potentially undermining domestic sovereignty for a generation.
The Road to Escalation: Understanding the Regional Fracture
The current crisis did not emerge in a vacuum. To understand how the region arrived at this perilous junction, one must examine the intersecting pressures of internal dissent, geopolitical alignment, and decades of resistance.
Internal Instability and Social Unrest
Iran has been grappling with a profound governing crisis, where the population is caught in a vice between crushing international sanctions and an inflexible authoritarian regime. This economic austerity has fueled waves of social unrest.
Recent discussions, including a MERIP Roundtable on Iranian protests, highlight that the volatility preceding this weekend’s attacks was rooted in a domestic struggle for dignity and rights.
This internal struggle was further catalyzed by the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. The impact of this movement on Iranian politics is explored deeply in essays on post-Jina Iran and accompanying podcast interviews, which discuss the evolution of resistance following the July 2025 war.
The ‘Axis of Resistance’ and the Palestine Link
Iran’s regional strategy is anchored in what is termed the “Axis of Resistance.” This ideological framework, explored in analyses of the dialectic of resistance, views the struggle against Israeli aggression as a central pillar of its foreign policy.
The complex relationship between Iranian domestic politics and its solidarity with Palestinians underscores why the death of the Supreme Leader triggered an immediate response from proxies across the region. Questions regarding the sustainability of this Axis have persisted for years, yet the current strikes have seemingly solidified these alliances through shared trauma.
The Lebanese Front and the Cycle of Ruin
Lebanon remains the most volatile flank of this conflict. From the devastating history of Lebanese resistance to the recent dispatches from South Lebanon, the country has been a primary battleground for Israeli-Iranian tensions.
Community resilience remains high, however. Efforts by Lebanese Shi’a to rebuild Dahiyeh amidst ongoing strikes—a topic detailed in recent podcast episodes—demonstrate a cycle of ruination and repair that defines modern Lebanese life.
Geopolitical Shifts and the Abraham Accords
While the Axis of Resistance strengthens, other regional players have attempted to pivot. The Abraham Accords sought to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab states, a move analyzed in the Material Politics of Normalization series.
However, the current US-Israel airstrikes on Iran and the subsequent retaliation against Gulf states suggest that these normalization agreements may offer little protection against the fallout of a full-scale regional war.
For broader context on the widening scope of this conflict, refer to the roundtable discussions on the regional war, which trace the escalation back to the assassination of Hamas leaders in Qatar in September 2025.
As the situation evolves, the world watches to see if diplomacy can find a foothold, or if the region is destined for a prolonged period of instability. For real-time updates on military movements, Reuters provides comprehensive coverage, while the Council on Foreign Relations offers deep strategic analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What triggered the recent US-Israel airstrikes on Iran?
- The US-Israel airstrikes on Iran were launched following a failure in peace negotiations, with the objective of neutralizing the regime’s top military and political leadership.
- Who was killed during the US-Israel airstrikes on Iran?
- The primary target and casualty was Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior IRGC commanders.
- How has Iran retaliated following the US-Israel airstrikes on Iran?
- Iran launched drone and missile attacks across the Persian Gulf, targeting U.S. bases and critical oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
- What is the impact of the US-Israel airstrikes on Iran on Lebanon?
- The strikes triggered a retaliatory missile launch from Hizballah into Israel, which resulted in heavy Israeli aerial bombardments across Lebanon.
- Will the US-Israel airstrikes on Iran lead to a prolonged conflict?
- Despite hopes for a “short war” from the U.S. administration, analysts suggest the strikes may cause long-term economic devastation and political instability in Iran.
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