Iran Retaliates, Strikes Israeli Cities
Iran has launched a barrage of missile and drone attacks against cities across Israel, a direct retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei. Air raid sirens sent millions of Israelis into shelters overnight, marking a significant escalation and a turning point in the rapidly expanding conflict.
The assassination of Ali Khamenei was part of a joint US-Israeli operation on February 28, 2026. Israeli jets, reportedly using intelligence from the US, dropped approximately 30 bombs on the Supreme Leader's compound in Tehran during a high-level meeting. The daytime decapitation strike also killed several of Khamenei's family members and senior officials. This direct confrontation follows years of a shadow war, which had recently escalated. After decades of proxy conflicts involving groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, 2024 saw the first open, direct military exchanges between the two nations. Tensions continued to mount, leading to a 12-day war in June 2025. Iran possesses the largest ballistic missile inventory in the Middle East, with some capable of striking targets up to 2,000 kilometers away. Its arsenal includes a diverse range of weapons such as ballistic missiles, which travel in a parabolic arc and are difficult to intercept, alongside low-flying cruise missiles and "kamikaze" drones like the Shahed-136. To counter these threats, Israel employs a sophisticated, multi-layered air defense network. This includes the Arrow system for long-range ballistic missiles high in the atmosphere, David's Sling for mid-range threats, and the Iron Dome for short-range rockets and drones. A newer laser-based system, the Iron Beam, is designed to neutralize smaller threats at a lower cost. International reaction to the escalation has been divided. The United States expressed support for the initial strike, with President Trump stating it was a chance for the Iranian people to "take back their country". The UN Secretary-General, along with nations like Russia and China, condemned the attacks and called for immediate de-escalation to avoid a wider regional conflict. The immediate economic fallout included a sharp spike in oil prices, reflecting fears of a disruption to global energy supplies. A significant portion of the world's oil transits through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint that could be threatened by a broader conflict, potentially pushing oil prices above $90 per barrel.
