Operation Epic Fury: US and Israel Launch Joint “Major Combat Operations” Against Iran
News Aggregator article posted Saturday 22.00
TEHRAN / WASHINGTON — The Middle East has spiraled into a state of full-scale regional war. In the early hours of Saturday, February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a massive, coordinated military campaign against Iran, targeting the capital of Tehran and several other major cities.
While a formal “Declaration of War” has not been issued by the U.S. Congress, President Donald Trump announced the commencement of “Operation Epic Fury,” describing the mission as a series of “major combat operations” aimed at eliminating the Iranian regime and its nuclear capabilities. Simultaneously, Israel has codenamed its offensive “Operation Roaring Lion.”
A Daylight Strike on the Capital
In a departure from traditional nighttime tactical strikes, the joint operation began with broad daylight attacks on Tehran.
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Targeting the Leadership: Explosions were reported in the district housing the Presidential Palace, the National Security Council, and the residence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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Geographic Scope: Beyond the capital, strikes hit military and nuclear infrastructure in Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah.
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Human Cost: Early reports from the Tehran Times state that a girls’ elementary school in Minab County was hit, resulting in the deaths of at least five students.
“Annihilation or Immunity”: The Trump Ultimatum
Shortly after the strikes began, President Trump released an eight-minute video message on social media. His rhetoric was unmistakable, framing the conflict not as a limited engagement, but as a campaign for regime change.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump stated. Addressing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly, he issued an ultimatum: “Lay down your arms and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death.”
In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the sentiment, stating that the joint forces were moving to “remove the existential threat” posed by the “terror regime.”
Iran Retaliates: The Region Engulfed
Iran’s response was immediate and widespread. The IRGC launched a “barrage of missiles” targeting northern Israel and several U.S. partner nations in the Gulf.
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Regional Interceptions: Missile debris and explosions were reported in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait.
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Casualties: UAE state media confirmed one fatality from falling shrapnel in Abu Dhabi—the first reported death in the Gulf from the Iranian counter-salvo.
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Airspace Shutdown: Major airlines, including Air India and Lufthansa, have suspended all flights to the Middle East. Airspaces over the UAE, Jordan, and Lebanon have been partially or fully closed.
Congressional Backlash and Legal Limbo
Despite the scale of the operation, the White House has not sought a formal declaration of war from Congress. This has triggered an immediate constitutional crisis in Washington. “Launching massive combat operations without congressional approval is a blatant violation of the War Powers Act,” said one ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. However, allies of the President, including Senator Lindsey Graham, have applauded the move as “long justified” to end the “largest state sponsor of terrorism.”
What to Expect Next
Israeli defense officials have indicated that the “initial phase” of the joint attack is planned to last for at least four days. With two U.S. carrier strike groups—the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Abraham Lincoln—stationed in the region, the “armada” promised by the White House appears prepared for a sustained campaign.
The global community remains on edge as European leaders call for “maximum restraint,” though for the citizens of Tehran and Tel Aviv, the time for restraint appears to have passed.
