Israel struck a building used by Iran’s Assembly of Experts in Qom on Tuesday, the body responsible for choosing the next supreme leader, with reports claiming the entire 88-member group inside was killed during the meeting.
The holy city south of Tehran turned into the latest target just days after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in earlier strikes. This group of senior clerics holds the real power to pick or even remove the top leader, so the timing raised eyebrows everywhere.
They had gathered to vote on a replacement when the bombs fell. Israeli sources told their media the goal was clear: to disrupt the process and keep Iran from settling on anyone new too fast. You can picture the scene inside that hall, votes half counted, when the explosions hit.
Iranian news outlets reacted fast and angrily. Tasnim called it a criminal act by American and Zionist forces. They said the site was an older building, maybe not even in full use, and played down any big losses.
But videos from the area showed thick smoke and what looked like heavy damage to a large compound. Rescue crews rushed in right away. Some accounts from the Israeli side painted a darker picture, saying the clerics sat right there counting ballots when the jets struck.
If those reports prove true, it would wipe out the whole Assembly in one blow and leave a giant hole in how Iran picks its future bosses.
This comes on top of nonstop pressure since the weekend attacks that took out Khamenei and other key figures. A temporary council stepped in to run things, but everyone expected the Assembly to move quickly and name someone permanent.
Now that plan sits in ruins. The Revolutionary Guards and President Pezeshkian face the tough job of holding the country steady while more missiles fly and the streets stay tense.
Qom matters a lot to Shia Muslims worldwide, being full of shrines and schools, so hitting there feels like a direct shot at the heart of the system.
People inside Iran split in their reactions as word spread. Loyal crowds gathered in Tehran squares waving flags and shouting for payback. They called the strike another proof of outside aggression.
At the same time, opposition voices online shared quiet relief, hoping the power shakeup might open doors for change after years of strict rule.
Social media overflowed with claims, photos of rubble, and questions about whether the building was truly empty or packed, as some said.
The move fits Israel’s bigger strategy in this fast-moving conflict. After the first wave that killed the supreme leader, the air campaign kept rolling to prevent any quick recovery.
Officials in Jerusalem made no secret they want to break the regime’s backbone so it cannot regroup or strike back hard. A senior voice on the Israeli side told reporters the hit happened exactly while votes were happening to make sure no smooth handover takes place.
Around the world the news stirred worry. Oil prices climbed again because any extra trouble in Iran threatens supplies through the Gulf. Leaders in Washington backed Israel’s right to protect itself, but some quietly wondered how much more the region can take. In Europe and beyond, calls for calm grew louder, though few expect them to change the pace of events on the ground.
For everyday Iranians the fear feels real. They watch more strikes land and wonder what comes next for their families. Markets jittered, schools closed in some spots, and the air filled with sirens in cities far from Qom.
The Assembly of Experts had met before in secret sessions, but this one stood out because the country needed stability fast after losing its long-time guide.
No full list of names or confirmed death toll came out by evening, leaving room for confusion and more rumours. Iranian media stuck to their line that the old site took the hit and losses stayed low.
Yet the Israeli accounts insisted the timing and target sent a loud message that no part of the leadership stays safe. Either way, the damage to the succession plan looks serious and could drag out the uncertainty for weeks or months.
As darkness settled over Qom, search teams kept digging through the debris. The whole Middle East watched closely because what happens in Iran ripples everywhere. This strike adds another heavy chapter to a war that started with one big blow and keeps growing.
Iran vows it will rebuild and hit back, while Israel shows no sign of slowing down. The coming days will show if the clerics can somehow regroup or if the power vacuum pulls the country deeper into trouble. Families mourn, leaders plan, and ordinary people hope the sky stays quiet long enough to breathe.
