Iran Launches Attacks on 27 US Bases in Middle East After Khamenei’s Death

Sunday, 01 March 2026 | Web Desk

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched coordinated attacks on 27 US military bases across Middle East (ME) following the reported death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to Iran’s state media, the attacks mark the sixth phase of retaliation against the United States and Israel after recent airstrikes inside Iran that resulted in killing the country’s long-serving leader.

The escalation significantly raises tensions across the region and threatens to widen the conflict into a broader Middle East war.

IRGC Announces “Sixth Phase” of Military Response

Iran’s state television quoted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as saying it had begun large-scale missile and drone strikes targeting:

• US military installations across ME
• Israeli strategic locations
• American defense assets stationed in the Gulf region

The IRGC described the operation as part of an ongoing retaliation campaign following what it called “joint US-Israeli aggression.”

Officials claimed dozens of precision-guided missiles and combat drones were launched in the latest wave.

Rising Tensions After Khamenei’s Reported Killing

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled Iran for more than three decades, was reportedly killed in coordinated US-Israeli strikes earlier this week. His death was first announced by US President Donald Trump, before being confirmed by Iranian state media.

Khamenei’s leadership shaped Iran’s regional military strategy, including support for proxy groups across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. His reported assassination marked one of the most significant political shocks in modern Iranian history.

In response, Iran vowed severe retaliation, warning that US military presence in the region would face “direct consequences.”

US Military Presence in the Middle East

The United States maintains a substantial military footprint across the Middle East region, including bases in:

• Iraq
• Syria
• Qatar
• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• United Arab Emirates

Security analysts warn that attacks on 27 bases — if confirmed — would represent one of the largest direct confrontations between Iran and US forces in decades.

Regional Impact and Global Concerns

Military experts fear that continued escalation could:

• Disrupt global oil markets
• Threaten shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf
• Trigger wider regional conflict
• Draw NATO allies into the crisis

Neither the US Department of Defense nor Israeli officials have yet issued a full damage assessment.

What Happens Next?

With Iran declaring that further phases of retaliation remain possible, global powers are urging restraint to prevent a full-scale regional war.

Diplomatic channels appear limited, and security conditions across the Middle East remain volatile.

More updates are expected as the situation develops.