Hours ago, and after weeks of tension, the Armed Forces of the United States and Israel launched a series of massive attacks against targets in Iranian territory. The military actions, initiated in the early hours of today, February 28, and announced by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have been designated Operation Epic Fury by the United States and Operation Roaring Lion by the Israeli government.
Background
This new outbreak of hostilities against Iran has as its closest precedent the attacks carried out in June 2025 by Israel as part of Operation “Rising Lion,” aimed at destroying Iran’s Nuclear Program through a large-scale air campaign.
Subsequently, the United States conducted Operation Midnight Hammer, during which stealth B-2 bombers carried out a series of strikes against underground facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan linked to Iran’s nuclear program, employing GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs.
Since then, the situation in Iran has been turbulent across various fronts, revealing the internal divisions the Islamic regime is currently facing. Alongside ongoing negotiations with the United States to drastically reduce its nuclear program, the domestic situation escalated into a series of protests that were brutally suppressed.
Meanwhile, since late last year and early this year, the Republican administration led by Donald Trump began reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East, highlighted first by the arrival in the region of the Carrier Strike Group of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The deployment of stealth fighter aircraft, bombers, and support aircraft was also reported.
Moreover, after beginning its redeployment from the Caribbean—having completed its participation in the strikes against Venezuela earlier this year—it was confirmed yesterday that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the most advanced vessel in the U.S. surface fleet, arrived off the coast of Israel. This move can be seen as the final piece in place before the United States launched Operation Epic Fury.
Announcement by Donald Trump
The start of the military actions, targeting various military and political facilities of the Iranian regime, was announced in a recorded address by President Trump.
During his speech, the president outlined the political objectives of this new wave of attacks, which seek to completely eliminate Iran’s nuclear program, as well as any capability to sustain it. He also did not rule out supporting regime change to bring an end to 47 years of rule by the ayatollahs.
In this regard, Trump stated: “The U.S. Armed Forces began major combat operations in Iran,” with the objective of “…defending the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”
For his part, Benjamin Netanyahu declared in his official address: “Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.”
He added: “Our joint action will create the conditions for the courageous Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands. The time has come for all segments of the Iranian people—the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Baluchis, and the Ahwazis—to throw off the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peaceful Iran.”
Latest reports
As the air campaign continues against Iran, the Islamic Armed Forces of Iran—widely outmatched in numerical and technological terms—have begun carrying out retaliatory strikes using various types of ballistic missiles against U.S. and allied military targets and installations in the region.
Reports indicate attacks against the Naval Support Activity Bahrain (headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet), Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and targets in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Israeli forces have conducted strikes against targets in Tehran, including an attack on the residence of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose current whereabouts remain unknown. Strikes were also reported in the cities of Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah, and Tabriz.
Developing story.
Cover image used for illustrative purposes.
