Israel Threatens Iran’s Next Supreme Leader as Drone Strike Sparks Fire in Kuwait
The conflict between Israel and Iran intensified on Sunday as regional attacks spread across the Gulf, with Israeli forces warning that they will target any successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader following the reported killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in earlier strikes.
The warning came as a drone attack blamed on Iran hit a government building in Kuwait City, triggering a massive fire that engulfed a high-rise office tower overnight.
Authorities later confirmed the building housed the headquarters of the Public Institution for Social Security, and said the blaze caused significant material damage, though emergency crews managed to bring the fire under control.
Gulf Region Hit by Drone and Missile Attacks
Several Gulf countries reported security incidents as the war entered its second week. In Bahrain, authorities said three people were injured after fragments from intercepted missiles struck a university building in Muharraq. Officials also reported damage to a water desalination facility following a drone attack.
Meanwhile in Dubai, debris from an aerial interception fell on a vehicle, killing one resident, according to local authorities. The attack occurred near Dubai International Airport, raising concerns over civilian safety in one of the region’s busiest travel hubs.
The Kuwaiti military said it had responded to multiple hostile drones, including attempted strikes near Kuwait International Airport.
Oil Depots Ablaze in Tehran
Inside Iran, Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted several oil storage facilities in Tehran, igniting massive fires and sending thick black smoke across the capital’s skyline.
Residents described scenes of chaos after fuel depots were hit in the north-western district, with burning oil spilling onto nearby streets. Videos circulating online showed flames spreading along roads and nearby buildings as emergency crews attempted to contain the blaze.
Iranian authorities said at least four tanker truck drivers were killed in the attacks. Officials also urged citizens to avoid panic buying fuel, insisting that reserves remain sufficient despite the strikes.
Many residents reported waking up to dark skies filled with smoke, with some saying the smell of burnt fuel lingered across parts of the city.
Israel Issues Warning Over Khamenei Successor
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a stark message regarding Iran’s leadership transition. Posting on social media in Persian, the Israeli military warned that it would “pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint a successor” to Khamenei.
The statement came as Iran’s Assembly of Experts, a council of senior clerics responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader, is reportedly preparing to meet to determine the next leader.
According to Iranian state-affiliated media, senior cleric Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri said the council had nearly reached a decision, though some procedural steps remain before the final announcement.
Lebanon Strikes and Evacuation Orders
Fighting also intensified in Lebanon, where Israeli forces launched multiple strikes overnight, including an attack on a hotel in Beirut that killed at least four people and injured several others.
The Israeli military said the strike targeted members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), specifically its overseas operations wing known as the Quds Force.
Israeli officials also issued new evacuation warnings for residents of several villages in southern Lebanon, saying the military was preparing further operations against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group active in the region.
Humanitarian Concerns Grow
The widening conflict has raised global concerns over its humanitarian consequences. The United Nations warned that the situation represents a “moment of grave peril,” with hundreds of thousands of civilians already displaced across affected areas.
International aid officials also cautioned that the war could worsen existing crises in nearby regions, while ongoing internet disruptions inside Iran have made communication increasingly difficult for civilians.
As missile strikes, drone attacks, and air raids continue across multiple countries, analysts fear the conflict could further escalate into a broader regional war affecting the entire Middle East.
