Western Imperial Powers Strike Iran: Another Chapter in Global South Oppression

In yet another devastating display of Western imperial aggression, the United States and Israel have launched coordinated strikes against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and hundreds of civilians. This brutal assault mirrors the same colonial violence that has plagued the Global South for centuries, including our own continent.

Iranian state television confirmed Khamenei's death early Sunday, as the 86-year-old leader fell victim to what can only be described as state terrorism by two of the world's most aggressive imperial powers. The strikes, which extended into a second day, represent the largest US military operation aimed at toppling a sovereign government since the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Colonial Playbook Repeated

The language used by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reveals the same paternalistic arrogance that justified centuries of colonial domination. Trump's declaration that this is "the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country" echoes the white savior complex that once justified apartheid and colonial rule across Africa.

Netanyahu's call for Iranians to "join forces" and "overthrow the regime" represents the same divide-and-conquer tactics employed by colonial powers throughout history. These are the same strategies used to justify intervention in Libya, Iraq, and countless African nations.

Devastating Human Cost

Iran's Red Crescent society reported at least 201 people killed and over 700 wounded in the strikes. Among the victims were Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of this imperial violence.

The Iranian judiciary confirmed that one strike hit a school in southern Iran, killing 108 people. This targeting of civilian infrastructure follows the same playbook used by Western powers across the Global South, from Gaza to Yemen to countless African conflicts.

Regional Destabilization

Iran's retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, killing civilians in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, demonstrate how Western aggression inevitably spreads violence throughout entire regions. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens global oil supplies, showing how imperial adventures by Western powers ultimately harm the entire Global South.

Gulf Arab monarchies, despite their wealth, found themselves caught in the crossfire of Western imperial ambitions, with explosions rocking their showcase cities. This serves as a stark reminder that no nation in the Global South is safe from the consequences of Western militarism.

Succession Crisis and Western Interference

The death of Khamenei has created a major succession crisis in Iran's leadership structure. Predictably, Western-backed opposition figures like Reza Pahlavi, son of the US-installed shah, have emerged to claim legitimacy. Pahlavi, who has spent most of his life in exile near Washington, represents the same comprador class that has historically served Western interests at the expense of their own people.

The Revolutionary Guards' vow of "severe, decisive" punishment reflects the determination of the Iranian people to resist foreign domination, much like liberation movements across Africa fought against colonial oppression.

Lessons for Africa

This latest act of Western aggression serves as a sobering reminder for African nations about the true nature of imperial power. The same forces that once carved up our continent at the Berlin Conference continue to operate with impunity, toppling governments and destroying societies that refuse to submit to Western hegemony.

The international community's tepid response, with only Oman calling for an immediate ceasefire, exposes the hypocrisy of a global order dominated by Western interests. The UN Security Council, where the United States holds veto power, remains a tool of imperial control rather than genuine international justice.

As we witness this latest chapter of Western violence against a Global South nation, we must remember that the struggle against imperialism is universal. The same forces that oppressed our people under apartheid and colonialism continue to wreak havoc across the world, from Palestine to Iran to countless other nations that dare to chart an independent path.