Israeli airstrike shattered the Assembly of Experts building in the city of Qom N. Prabhakaran DUBAI: An Israeli airstrike has targeted ...
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| Israeli airstrike shattered the Assembly of Experts building in the city of Qom |
N. Prabhakaran
DUBAI: An Israeli airstrike has targeted a building in the city of Qom where the Assembly of Experts—the body empowered to elect Iran’s Supreme Leader—was reportedly meeting. Given the current volatile climate, the international community is monitoring these developments with grave concern.
As of now, there is no clear information regarding the number of people inside the building at the time of the attack. Iranian official media outlets have remained silent on the matter.
The city of Qom is widely recognized as the spiritual capital of Iran. The targeted structure served as the headquarters for the Assembly of Experts and is considered a site of significant religious and political importance. According to the Reuters news agency, the multi-story building was completely destroyed in the strike.
Reports indicate that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out the operation. Meanwhile, Iran's Tasnim News Agency has attributed the destruction of the headquarters to "American-Zionist criminals."
The Assembly of Experts is one of Iran's most powerful constitutional institutions. Comprising 88 Islamic scholars, this body holds the sole authority to elect, oversee, and—if necessary—remove the Supreme Leader.
The attack occurred during crucial discussions to choose a successor following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Analysts believe the objective of the strike was to disrupt the transition of Iran's political and religious leadership.
In the wake of Khamenei's death, a provisional council is currently overseeing the country's administration. The strike took place while the Assembly was conducting preliminary talks to appoint a new leader. Concurrently, Israel and the United States are reportedly continuing joint strikes on strategic Iranian locations, including military bases and nuclear facilities.
This airstrike represents a major setback for Iran's efforts to establish a new head of state. By targeting the headquarters of the nation's highest council, the strike has pushed Iran toward a period of significant political uncertainty.
Previously, Iran's ISNA news agency had cited a member of the Assembly of Experts stating that the process of selecting a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "would not take long."
According to data available as of Monday night, since the commencement of "Operation Roaring Lion" early Saturday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have dropped over 2,500 bombs on more than 600 targets across Iran. Overnight, approximately 100 fighter jets participated in an IAF strike on a government complex in Tehran, dropping over 250 bombs on that site alone. These actions are reportedly being bolstered by additional strikes carried out by the United States.
According to the Israeli military, the targeted Tehran complex housed the President's headquarters, the Supreme National Security Council, a senior leadership meeting compound, and a training center for Iranian military officers.
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