• The IRGC Quds Force threatens revenge against US and Israeli forces for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warning that enemies will not be safe even at home.
  • A temporary leadership council has taken over in Iran following Khamenei's death, as the country faces a power vacuum and escalating regional tensions.
  • The strike, part of Operation Epic Fury, targeted multiple IRGC facilities and killed around 40 senior officials, disrupting command structures and defense industries.

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East hostilities, Iranian state media confirmed on February 28, 2026, that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli military operation dubbed "Operation Epic Fury" or "Roaring Lion." The strike, which hit a Tehran compound, also claimed the lives of Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani and Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, among approximately 40 senior officials, according to sources familiar with the matter. The IRGC Quds Force swiftly issued a statement vowing the "most ferocious offensive operation in history" and promising that those responsible would face "severe punishment," even in their own homes.

Guided by intelligence tracking Khamenei's routines, the operation targeted multiple sites across Iran, including IRGC facilities in Tehran, East Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, and Esfahan industrial sites. This builds on prior US-Israeli attacks in June 2025 that destroyed Iran's nuclear ambitions, with Israeli officials labeling Khamenei as the "architect" of threats via IRGC proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas. In a video address, US President Trump called for regime change, stating Iran is "obliterated" and urging patriots to seize power, while Netanyahu framed the strike as eliminating an "existential threat."

Efforts to stabilize Iran's leadership have hit a snag, with a three-person temporary council—comprising the President, Judiciary Chief, and a Guardian Council member—now governing per the constitution, pending a successor selection by the Assembly of Experts. Khamenei had pre-planned succession amid escalating conflict, but the strikes have disrupted IRGC command, Basij paramilitary units used for protest suppression, and defense industries such as Kimia Part Sivan drone production, potentially weakening internal control. Iranian officials claim public anger will thwart US-Israeli goals, but without a deal, the country could face further fragmentation.

Industry-specific elements include the IRGC's history of exporting revolution via the Quds Force, with precedents like the 2020 Soleimani drone strike and limited responses to 2025 nuclear strikes. Experts predict short-term disruptions in air defenses and long-term risks of proxy escalations, with CTP-ISW assessing Hezbollah intervention as likely. The "Resistance Axis," including Hezbollah and Houthis, may act independently, viewing the strikes as a red line. As negotiations for a stable transition falter, the IRGC's threats loom large, with real-time market data showing heightened volatility in regional assets. Attempts to reach Iranian officials for comment were unsuccessful, but sources indicate that the transitional council is struggling to maintain cohesion amid the crisis.