The Gulf on Fire: US-Israel "Decapitation" Strike Ignites Middle East, Global Order Faces Scrutiny

[Introduction] On February 28 local time, the silence over the Middle East was shattered by explosions. The US and Israel launched a massive military strike on Iran. The "Operation Epic Fury" not only brought smoke to Tehran but also led to the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. This sudden war is not just a military conflict but a severe challenge to international law and global energy lifelines.

The Roaring Lion and Epic Fury: The Game Behind the Surprise Attack

On the morning of February 28, 2026, just two days after the US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva, Switzerland, the situation went out of control. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced the start of "Operation Roaring Lion," while US President Trump confirmed in a video speech that the US military was executing "Operation Epic Fury."

The attack is widely seen as a well-planned "decapitation" strike. The US-Israel coalition deployed heavy forces, including F-35 stealth fighters and the USS Ford carrier strike group, conducting saturation strikes on over 500 military targets in Iran. Tehran, Isfahan, and Qom, where nuclear facilities are located, were heavily bombed.

The core target is the decision-making core: Intelligence shows the airstrike precisely hit the location where Iran's Supreme Leader and his senior aides were holding a meeting. On the 9th, Iranian officials confirmed that Khamenei "martyred at his post," a news that instantly ignited global public opinion.

True Promise-4: Uncontrollable Retaliation and Humanitarian Disaster

Faced with the fall of the supreme leader and hundreds of military targets destroyed, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps quickly launched the "True Promise-4" retaliation. The conflict escalated rapidly within 40 hours, completely out of control.

• All-round strikes: Iran not only launched missiles at the Tel Aviv defense industrial park and the Hakirya General Headquarters in Israel but also used drones and ballistic missiles to attack 14 US military bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE.

• Key facilities damaged: A 5,000-kilometer detection range early-warning radar deployed by the US in Qatar was claimed by Iran to be "completely destroyed," creating a gap in the US air defense and missile defense system in the Middle East.

• Tragic civilian casualties: The cost of war is ultimately borne by civilians. A girls' elementary school in Hormozgan Province in southern Iran was hit by a missile, killing over 160 innocent lives. The teaching building became ruins, with books scattered among the rubble. According to the Iranian Red Crescent, 131 cities across the country have been affected.

The Strait of Hormuz in Crisis: The "Achilles' Heel" of the Global Economy is Choked

What worries the world most about this conflict is not just the flames of war but the direct threat to the global energy lifeline.

After being attacked, Iran announced a ban on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway handles about one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil transportation. As three non-compliant oil tankers were hit by missiles, with one sinking, international oil prices surged by 13% accordingly. The global market instantly fell into panic; OPEC's emergency announcement of increased production hardly eased market anxiety.

Who is Breaking the Rules? The Fragmentation and Concerns of the International Community

Faced with the US-Israel "pre-emptive strike," the international community has complex reactions, but the condemnation is loud.

• Russia and North Korea: Directly condemned this as a "premeditated armed aggression" violating international law.

• Oman (mediator): Foreign Minister Badr expressed "disappointment," bluntly stating that "positive and serious negotiations have been disrupted again," and warned, "This is not your war."

• EU: While condemning Iran's retaliatory actions, it also called on all parties to exercise restraint.

The return of the "Law of the Jungle"? The deepest crisis of this incident lies in the fact that negotiations seem to be a cover for military actions. The US and Israel launched a surprise attack when negotiations seemed close to a consensus after amassing troops. This "Big Stick" logic is eroding the international order centered on the United Nations. When "might makes right" becomes an unwritten rule, the value of diplomatic dispute resolution will be gone.

[Conclusion] The chaos in the Middle East may have just begun. As Iran initiates the succession process, the new leadership will face tough choices under a survival crisis. For the world, how to uphold the bottom line of peace and order amidst the fluctuations of artillery fire and oil prices is a severe test facing all mankind.

[Interactive Topic] Do you think this conflict will evolve into a full-scale war? How should the international community stop the situation from deteriorating further? Welcome to leave a comment and discuss.