To Avenge Khamenei, the Revolutionary Guards Unleash Fury on All Fronts

On the second day of the US-Israeli offensive against the Iranian regime, military operations escalated on Sunday, March 1, 2026, in a manner that could be described as "qualitative" due to the official confirmation in Tehran of the death of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ali Khamenei, killed in the first airstrikes carried out on Saturday morning, February 28, against his residence in the Iranian capital. The Leader's death was confirmed overnight from Saturday to Sunday by state television, and the authorities immediately declared a forty-day period of national mourning.

The announcement of Khamenei's death sparked popular jubilation and celebrations in the streets of Tehran and several other major cities. The Iranian regime, however, asserted that the United States and Israel had crossed "a red line," declaring that the response would be "swift and decisive." Indeed, the mullahs' regime launched a full-scale attack on Sunday morning to avenge the death of the Supreme Leader.

In what appears to be a suicidal escalation, or a reaffirmation of a blind adherence to the cult of death and martyrdom, the Revolutionary Guards intensified their missile strikes on Sunday against Israel, certainly, but especially against the Gulf states, even including—in an unprecedented development—Cyprus, where two missiles targeted the British base on the island. Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, and the outskirts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were also included in this onslaught. Even the Sultanate of Oman, which in recent years has played the role of mediator and conciliator between the mullahs' regime and the United States, was not spared, under the pretext of targeting an American ship anchored in an Omani port.

Raids Against Command Centers

As part of the Israeli offensive, the Israeli Air Force conducted dozens of raids Sunday morning in various regions to neutralize Iranian air defenses and consolidate its control of the airspace.

An Israeli military spokesperson indicated around noon that this objective had been largely achieved, allowing Israeli aircraft to better target their strikes. Indeed, in the early afternoon, a raid targeted a command center in the heart of Tehran, comprised of several large, adjacent buildings. A video released by the Israeli military shows these buildings—four or five in number—collapsing completely under the weight of Israeli bombs, in impressive plumes of white smoke.

The air force thus appears to have begun a vast series of raids targeting command centers and, undoubtedly, key figures in the Iranian regime. On Saturday, an authorized source in Tel Aviv indicated that these raids constituted a "first phase that will last four days."

A Transitional Council

It should also be noted in this context that following the death of the Supreme Leader, a Transitional Council was formed, comprising Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, the head of the judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and a religious dignitary who is a member of the Assembly of Experts and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Alireza Arafi. This triumvirate is tasked with ensuring the interim leadership until the election of a new Supreme Leader.

Seven Senior Officials Killed

It is worth recalling that the Israeli army announced on Saturday evening that it had killed seven senior regime officials:

Ali Shemkhani, Secretary General of the Defense Council and personal advisor to the Supreme Leader on security matters.

Mohammed Bakpour, commander of the ground forces within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Aziz Nassir Zada, Minister of Defense and head of military industries.

Mohammed Chirazi, Chairman of the Military Bureau of Imam Khamenei.

Salah Assadi, Head of the Intelligence Section at the Emergency Command.

Hussein Jabal Amelyane, Chairman of the SPND association, responsible for developing military technologies and nuclear and biological programs.

Rida Mazfari Nya, former member of SPND.

Meeting of the Supreme Defense Council in Baabda

On a purely Lebanese level, President Joseph Aoun convened the Supreme Defense Council for an extraordinary meeting on Sunday morning, held at the Baabda Palace. The communiqué issued after the discussions reiterates, for all to hear, that the decision regarding war and peace rests solely with the Lebanese state. A “diplomatic”, but very explicit warning to Hezbollah so that it is not tempted to drag the country into a new sterile and pointless war that does not concern it in any way.