US-Iran War Enters Fourth Day
The U.S. conflict with Iran is escalating, with Washington evacuating personnel and temporarily closing embassies across the Middle East. President Trump authorized "Operation Epic Fury," an “unprecedented” air assault, while Senator Marco Rubio warned Tehran the “hardest hits are yet to come” following a drone attack on the U.S. embassy.
The joint U.S.-Israeli "Operation Epic Fury" began on February 28, hitting over 1,000 targets within the first 24 hours. The stated mission is to destroy Iran's offensive missiles, naval forces, and nuclear weapons capabilities, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The operation represents the largest concentration of American military firepower in the region in a generation. A central event of the initial, multi-city assault was the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which was confirmed by Iranian state media. The strikes targeted military and government facilities in at least nine cities, including Tehran and Qom, as well as the major nuclear facility in Isfahan. Iran has retaliated against American interests across the Middle East. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was struck by two drones, causing a "limited fire" and minor damage. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait was also attacked and has been shut down until further notice. The U.S. State Department has ordered the evacuation of non-emergency government personnel from multiple countries
