Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei has been killed by US-Israel strikes on Iran on Saturday, following which a 40-day mourning period has been announced. Iranian media confirmed the death of 86-year-old leader, shortly after US President Donald Trump announced that Khamenei has been killed in the operation launched on Saturday. Supreme leader’s daughter, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law were also killed by the strikes on Sunday.
Donald Trump on his social media posted, “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS”.
Khamenei was unable to avoid the highly sophisticated intelligence and tracking systems of US which were closely working with Israel. Crowds gathered in streets of Iran chanting ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel’ slogans were seen in several purported pictures and videos emerging from the streets of Iran on social media.
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi named interim Leader
Iran has appointed Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as its interim Supreme Leader following the death of Khamenei. Arafi is a senior cleric and a long-time insider in Iran’s religious and political hierarchy. Born in 1959 in Meybod, Yazd province, Arafi has spent decades within Iran’s theological and bureaucratic institutions. Khamenei appointed him to key roles over the years, due to which his political career accelerated. He has extensive experience within Iran’s religious bureaucracy and enjoys strong establishment credentials.
Middle East under attack
Tensions across the Middle East escalated soon after the US-Israel strike on Iran. Iran attacked various U.S. military bases. Bahrain reported a missile strike aimed at the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters. Drone strike hit near Kuwait’s main international airport, injuring several employees and troops. Explosions were also heard in Qatar. Several countries, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait and the UAE, closed their airspace as a precaution.
Iran also launched strikes targeting Dubai, a city long marketed as being insulated from regional turbulence. The attack is being linked with Dubai’s strategic importance to US operations and global commerce. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said they targeted the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with four ballistic missiles.
