Middle East on Edge: Iran's Retaliation Plans, and Trump’s Ultimatum

Israel launched a series of targeted strikes against Iran's air defense systems, missile launchers, and senior leadership positions, raising fears of a broader regional escalation as President Donald Trump signaled that the United States may take further action. Preemptive Strikes Target Iran's Military and Leadership According to regional sources, Israeli strikes focused on air defense assets, missile launch platforms, and senior Iranian officials, including Ali Khamenei, the defense minister, the chief of the general staff, the intelligence chief, and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The objective reportedly aimed to slow Iran's decision-making process and disrupt its chain of command. Before the operation began, the Central Intelligence Agency assessed that even if Ali Khamenei were eliminated, a more radical figure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would likely replace him.