Operation Epic Fury: U.S.–Israel War with Iran

A large-scale war has erupted between the United States, Israel, and Iran, rapidly expanding into a multi-front regional conflict involving numerous Middle Eastern states. The hostilities began on Saturday, March 1, 2026, when coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian leadership and military infrastructure, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and hundreds of others. U.S. President Donald Trump stated on March 2 that the campaign, named Operation Epic Fury, was projected to last four to five weeks but could continue longer if necessary. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine confirmed that additional U.S. forces were being deployed to the region, with over 2,000 Iranian targets already struck.

The strikes in Iran hit critical sites including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, the military intelligence directorate, the Konarak and Bandar Abbas naval bases, and the Natanz nuclear facility. Civilian infrastructure was also damaged, including the state broadcaster IRIB complex and the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace in Tehran. The Iranian Red Crescent reported at least 787 deaths, including 165 students and staff killed in a missile strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran.

Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel and at least eight other countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Jordan. The IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and threatened to destroy any vessel attempting passage. Iranian forces struck U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and the UAE, as well as the U.S. consulate in Erbil and the British base in Cyprus. The UAE reported intercepting 9 ballistic missiles, 6 cruise missiles, and 148 drones, while Qatar’s air force reportedly shot down two Iranian Su-24 aircraft and intercepted multiple missiles.

In Saudi Arabia, a refinery in Ras Tanura was attacked, and the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones, causing a fire. Kuwait’s air defenses mistakenly shot down three U.S. F-15E fighter jets, and the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait was also struck. The U.S. Central Command confirmed six American service members killed and 18 injured.

Israel simultaneously launched extensive operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon after the group fired rockets and drones at Haifa in retaliation for Khamenei’s killing. Lebanese authorities reported 52 deaths from Israeli strikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to act forcefully, and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir announced an offensive campaign against Hezbollah, mobilizing over 100,000 reservists. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned Hezbollah’s actions, banned its military activities, and called for international pressure on Israel to halt strikes.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, asserting that the campaign aimed to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear capability. Israeli air defenses intercepted multiple Iranian missiles and drones, while the IDF struck over 2,500 Iranian military assets and 600 infrastructure facilities.

The conflict has triggered widespread evacuations. The U.S. State Department ordered citizens to leave 14 countries across the Middle East, including Israel, Iran, and the Gulf states. QatarEnergy halted LNG production, and Saudi Arabia and Israel suspended oil and gas operations amid attacks on energy infrastructure.

China condemned the U.S.-Israeli actions as a violation of Iranian sovereignty, while European governments remained divided, with Spain labeling the strikes illegal and Germany urging restraint. The IRGC warned that U.S. and Israeli citizens would no longer be safe anywhere in the world.

The U.S.–Israel–Iran war represents a fundamental shift in the regional and global security environment, marking the most direct confrontation between major powers and Iran in decades. The elimination of Iran’s Supreme Leader through a targeted strike has shattered long-standing norms of state sovereignty and international law, as noted by multiple analyses. The precedent of assassinating a recognized head of state without international authorization undermines the legitimacy of diplomatic processes and signals a new era in which coercive force supersedes legal frameworks.

Strategically, the conflict has redefined deterrence dynamics in the Middle East. The U.S. and Israel’s coordinated campaign demonstrates advanced integration of intelligence, precision strike capabilities, and cyber operations, while Iran’s retaliatory attacks across multiple states reveal the depth of its regional network and missile reach. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure have immediate implications for global energy security, threatening to disrupt one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. The halting of LNG production in Qatar and refinery shutdowns in Saudi Arabia illustrate the vulnerability of critical chokepoints and the cascading economic effects of regional warfare.

The war also exposes the fragility of alliance systems. While the U.S. and Israel maintain operational unity, European allies are divided over the legality and proportionality of the strikes. China’s condemnation and potential exploitation of the crisis for strategic advantage in Asia highlight the global dimension of the conflict. The absence of UN authorization and the marginalization of international institutions further erode the post–World War II order, reinforcing a multipolar environment where power projection replaces consensus-based diplomacy.

Regionally, the conflict has reignited proxy warfare. Hezbollah’s reentry into combat, despite Lebanese government opposition, underscores the erosion of state authority in fragile states. The Israeli offensive in Lebanon risks a prolonged ground campaign reminiscent of earlier conflicts, while Iranian strikes on U.S. and allied bases in the Gulf expand the war’s geographic scope. The involvement of multiple Arab states, both as targets and as hosts to U.S. forces, complicates their domestic stability and foreign policy alignment.

The humanitarian and political consequences are severe. Civilian casualties in Iran, including the deaths of schoolchildren, have inflamed anti-U.S. sentiment and could radicalize new generations. The U.S. evacuation of embassies and citizens across the region signals a recognition of uncontrollable escalation. The war’s duration and intensity will likely determine whether it remains a limited punitive campaign or evolves into a protracted regional conflagration.

Ultimately, this conflict demonstrates the convergence of military technology, energy vulnerability, and rivalry. It reveals how precision warfare and targeted leadership decapitation can destabilize entire regions, while the erosion of international norms accelerates a transition toward a more anarchic global order. The outcome will shape not only Middle Eastern geopolitics but also the credibility of Western deterrence and the future of international law.

- United States

- Israel

- Iran

- Hezbollah

- Lebanon

- Saudi Arabia

- Qatar