The assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026, during coordinated United States and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran marked a significant escalation in longstanding tensions between the Islamic Republic and the West. The strikes targeted high-level leadership compounds and resulted in the deaths of Khamenei along with several senior military and security officials. In the immediate aftermath, Iranian state media confirmed the loss, declared a period of national mourning, and issued strong calls for retribution. Regional responses included ballistic missile and drone launches aimed at Israeli targets and American military installations across the Persian Gulf region, affecting bases in countries such as Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. These actions demonstrated Iran’s willingness to project power beyond its borders despite the internal leadership vacuum created by the strikes. This event…