Khamenei killed; tension soars as Iran launches missile strikes on Gulf nations, more than 200 killed in attacks in Iran

TEL AVIV: After Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (86) and other top officials were killed in a joint US-Israel attack, Iran's retaliation has expanded to Gulf countries hosting American military bases. Iran launched missile attacks on several Gulf nations that have US military installations, creating a highly tense war-like situation across West Asia. The developments have raised serious concerns for India, as lakhs of expatriates, including Malayalis, work in Gulf countries.

Air traffic has been severely disrupted. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha airports have been closed. More than 1,500 flights were cancelled on Sunday.

Nine people were killed and over 100 were injured in the attacks on Gulf countries. Iran claimed that it targeted 27 US bases across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq.

The United States confirmed that three American soldiers were killed and five seriously injured in the attacks. The US also said it sank an Iranian warship in the Gulf of Oman near the port of Chabahar.

Three-member interim council in Iran
In Iran, a three-member interim leadership council has taken charge under President Masoud Pezeshkian. The other members are Chief Justice Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei and senior cleric Alireza Arafi, a close associate of Khamenei.

The council will govern the country until a new Supreme Leader is chosen. Early indications suggest that Alireza Arafi and Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Hosseini, are among the possible successors. Iran has declared 40 days of mourning following Khamenei’s death.

Heavy explosions in Iran; over 200 deaths
On the second day of attacks, Israel carried out major strikes in Iran, including in the capital Tehran. In Tabriz, two Iranian Air Force fighter jets were reportedly destroyed. More than 200 civilians, including 153 children, have been killed in Iran so far, and over 750 have been injured. In Iran's retaliatory strikes, 11 people were killed in Israel. Eight died in a missile strike on a building in Beit Shemesh and one in Tel Aviv. More than 450 people were injured.

Impact on Gulf countries

• In Bahrain, a missile hit the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama. Drone attacks were also reported in Oman’s Duqm port and in Doha, Qatar.
• The UAE was targeted with 167 missiles and 541 drones. Industrial areas in Abu Dhabi and the Saeed Port area were attacked. Drone debris fell near Etihad Towers, injuring a woman and a child. Explosions were reported near the Burj Al Arab hotel and the Jebel Ali Port in Dubai.
• A drone attack caused a fire at a warehouse in the Al-Salam Naval Base in Abu Dhabi. No casualties were reported there.
• Kuwait was reportedly hit by 97 Iranian ballistic missiles and 283 drones.

Deaths:

UAE- 3
Kuwait- 1
Syria- 5

Injuries

UAE- 58
Kuwait- 32
Qatar- 16
Bahrain- 4
Oman- 1