US and Israel Launch Joint Strikes on Iran, Kill Supreme Leader

Yesterday, the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, spurring retaliation bombs that hit several US bases in the Middle East. However, the attack succeeded in killing Iran's Supreme Leader, accomplishing their primary mission.

The move came after weeks of threats from US President Donald Trump, who announced last week that he would decide whether to strike Iran within the following ten days. The president had allegedly been conducting negotiations over the shutdown of Iran's nuclear program, but those talks appear to have failed.

Trump was prepared, though, for a possible failure in negotiations. The US had been building up its arsenal in the Gulf for months, signaling that a war or some sort of conflict was inevitable.

To dethrone Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and destroy his authoritarian regime, Trump authorized airstrikes in partnership with Israel. The two nations heavily damaged Khamenei's central compound in the Iranian capital of Tehran, sparking retaliation from Iran.

Strikes on US military bases across the Middle East followed suit, with Iran striking Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE.

Several missiles were intercepted over Dubai, preventing a full impact, but the falling debris from the collisions led to damage at Dubai International Airport and fires at the famed Fairmont hotel on the Palm Jumeirah and the iconic sail-shaped façade of the Burj al-Arab hotel. A drone strike also hit Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, killing one person and injuring at least seven others. All flights have been grounded until further notice, disrupting air travel for thousands of people.

Kuwait's Ali al-Salem Air Base was also targeted with strikes, all of which were intercepted by defense systems. However, a drone strike hit Kuwait International Airport, leading to minor damage and injuries to several employees.

In Bahrain, airstrikes hit the headquarters of the US Navy's 5th fleet, along with several residential buildings in the capital of Manama. Saudi Arabia and Qatar also reported being targeted by airstrikes, but all of the missiles were successfully intercepted.

Israel was also hit by a retaliation missile, which struck a residential complex in the country's largest city of Tel Aviv-Yafo. At least 22 people were injured, and one death was reported later on.

After the retaliation, the US and Israel launched another round of strikes across Iran, and both nations confirmed Khamenei's death just hours later. Iran, on the other hand, has not confirmed the death of Khamenei, but they have stated that his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild were all killed in the strikes. The US and Israel have also confirmed the deaths of numerous other high-ranking Iranian officials, guaranteeing a collapse of the authoritarian leader's regime after strikes on over 19 cities.

As a whole, the conflict sparked outrage from the United Nations, who condemned the US and Israel's decision to strike Iran and called for the "immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation" to protect civilians. Democrats were also quick to criticize Trump's actions, labeling it as a violation of international law and an unnecessary conflict that the US had no business getting involved in.

They cited the deaths of over 200 Iranian citizens, including 108 children killed by Israeli airstrikes at a girls' school in the southern city of Minab– though some reports have alleged that the strikes were actually due to a failed Iranian rocket, while others claimed that bunker infrastructure was located below the school. Further analysis of the strikes also raised the possibility of Iran deliberately striking the school to create international sympathy, and experts and observers alike have noted the fact that the strikes took place on a Saturday, when children are usually not in school.

Nevertheless, Trump justified the entire conflict with a claim that Iran was just days away from building a nuclear bomb – a claim that has been highly refuted by experts, though – and asserted that Khamenei's regime has oppressed, tortured, and killed Iranian citizens. Just last month, over 30,000 Iranians were killed during a major crackdown on protests by Khamenei's authorities.

Reporters in Iran confirmed that people across the nation have rejoiced at the death of Khamenei, and both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are pushing for the Iranian people to take control of the country. Trump told Iranian citizens to "seize control of your destiny" and "unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach," while Netanyahu urged citizens to "flood the streets" and "unshackle themselves from tyranny."

However, both leaders have asserted that strikes on Iran will continue throughout the week if needed to secure a transition of power and prevent Khamenei's supporters from regaining leadership of the country.

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Image credit to AP