Iran war live: Huge crowds mourn Khamenei, Trump vows calm during funeral
Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and members of his family were killed in a US-Israeli air strike in February.
Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and members of his family were killed in a US-Israeli air strike in February.
Read Full Story at Al Jazeera →Why This Matters
The assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his family in a US-Israeli strike marks a seismic shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics, potentially accelerating a power vacuum that could redraw regional alliances for decades. The event underscores the escalating covert war between Israel and Iran, where targeted strikes have become a preferred tool over direct military confrontation—raising questions about whether this tactic will now be normalized or met with retaliatory escalation.
Background Context
Khamenei’s decades-long leadership was defined by Iran’s expansionist foreign policy, including its support for proxy groups like Hezbollah and its nuclear program, which Israel has long deemed existential threats. The February strike, claimed by Israel with reported US involvement, follows a pattern of covert operations against Iranian nuclear scientists and military figures, but targeting the supreme leader himself represents an unprecedented provocation with unpredictable consequences.
What Happens Next
The funeral’s massive turnout suggests the regime will leverage the mourning to consolidate power under a likely successor, possibly hardliner Ebrahim Raisi or a military figure, but internal fractures could emerge as factions jockey for influence. Regional observers warn of immediate retaliatory strikes, possibly through Hezbollah or Iraqi militias, while Western powers may face pressure to mediate—or risk being sidelined in a rapidly evolving crisis.
Bigger Picture
This incident fits into a broader pattern of Israel’s shifting security doctrine, where preemptive strikes on high-value targets are increasingly prioritized over deterrence by negotiation. It also highlights the growing role of covert operations in 21st-century conflicts, where traditional state-on-state warfare is giving way to targeted assassinations and cyberattacks, blurring the lines between war and peace.
