Iran Retaliates, Striking Israeli Cities
Iran has launched large-scale retaliatory attacks on Israeli cities, forcing millions of Israelis to take shelter overnight. The missile barrages come in response to the killing of its Supreme Leader, while Israeli strikes continue to hit Tehran, dramatically escalating the risk of a wider regional war.
The assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026, marked a dramatic escalation in the long-simmering conflict. The daylight airstrike on his Tehran compound was a joint U.S.-Israeli operation, with U.S. officials stating the goal was regime change in Iran. For decades, the two nations were engaged in a "shadow war," avoiding direct confrontation. This involved Iran backing proxy groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, while Israel was accused of assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists and conducting cyberattacks. Direct military exchanges began to erupt more openly in 2024, leading to a brief but intense 12-day war in June 2025. Iran possesses the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East, with thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles. Systems like the Shahab-3, Sejil, and Ghadr are capable of reaching targets up to 2,000 kilometers away, putting Israel and parts of Southeast Europe within range. To counter this threat, Israel employs a sophisticated multi-layered air defense network. This includes the short-range Iron Dome, the mid-range David's Sling, and the long-range Arrow system for ballistic missiles. The United States has also bolstered these defenses by deploying its own THAAD system in Israel. The international community is sharply divided. Russia and China have issued statements supporting Iran, while the U.S. and some allies defend the initial strike that killed Khamenei. The UN Secretary-General has condemned the military escalation from both sides, warning of a wider regional conflict with devastating consequences. The death of Khamenei, who ruled for over three decades, creates significant uncertainty within Iran's leadership structure. This internal instability, combined with threats of a prolonged retaliatory campaign by Iran and its regional proxies, has heightened fears of the conflict spiraling into a devastating, region-wide war.
