Missile exchanges and retaliatory threats intensify after major strikes hit Iranian targets, prompting global calls for restraint in the fear of a widening Middle East war
BY FRANCESCA RAPISARDA
Large-scale military strikes by the United States and Israel have pushed Iran into a rapidly escalating confrontation, causing retaliation and fears that the conflict could expand across the Middle East.
The escalation began on 28 February, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated airstrikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, senior commanders and political leadership sites across the country.
Iranian state media and multiple international news agencies report that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attacks, a development that, if fully consolidated politically, would mark the most consequential shift in Iran’s power structure since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran responded within hours, launching ballistic missiles and drone attacks against Israel and U.S. military positions across the Gulf. Strikes have reportedly reached multiple countries hosting American forces, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, while civilian casualties have been reported on both sides.
The Pentagon confirmed the first American military deaths linked to the conflict, underscoring the rapid transition from limited confrontation to direct interstate warfare. Regional airspace closures and missile alerts have disrupted civilian aviation and maritime traffic, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy corridor.
Iranian officials have vowed further retaliation, warning of what they described as “terrifying blows” against adversaries, while Israel has continued aerial operations over Tehran and other strategic locations.
Following Khamenei’s reported death, Iran has moved to establish an interim leadership council composed of senior political and judicial figures while preparations begin for selecting a new Supreme Leader. Analysts warn the transition could deepen internal instability within an already strained political system.
The leadership crisis comes after months of domestic unrest. Since late 2025, Iran has experienced nationwide anti-government protests driven by economic collapse, inflation, and political repression.
Authorities have repeatedly restricted internet access, with monitoring groups reporting connectivity dropping sharply again following the latest strikes, limiting independent reporting from inside the country.
The conflict has already expanded beyond Iran and Israel, raising concerns among diplomats that the confrontation could evolve into a broader Middle East war involving proxy militias and neighbouring states. The United Nations has convened emergency discussions, while European and regional leaders have urged immediate de-escalation.
Global markets have reacted sharply, with energy shipments delayed and airlines suspending flights across parts of the Gulf amid security fears.
The current confrontation follows years of escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional influence. The killing of Iran’s supreme leader, combined with ongoing military exchanges, represents a potential geopolitical turning point whose outcome remains uncertain.
The situation remains unstable, with the risk that further escalation could draw additional international actors into the conflict.
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