US, Israel Launch Major Strikes on Iran
The U.S. and Israel have initiated a large-scale military operation against Iran, codenamed “Epic Fury,” with coordinated airstrikes hitting multiple locations, including Tehran. President Trump framed the action as “major combat operations,” calling on the Iranian people to “take over their government.” The escalation follows simultaneous reports of large explosions in Dubai and Riyadh, pushing the region toward a wider conflict.
The joint military operation, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury" by the U.S. and "Roaring Lion" by Israel, targeted a wide array of Iranian sites. Strikes were reported in multiple cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. Among the primary targets were Iranian military and naval facilities, missile depots, and locations near the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the capital. Satellite imagery shows significant damage to Khamenei's compound, with a plume of smoke and collapsed structures visible. While initial reports suggest Khamenei was moved to a secure location prior to the strike, the status of other high-ranking officials remains uncertain. There are unconfirmed reports that Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the supreme leader, may have been killed. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military installations across the region. Bases in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain were among the sites targeted. The retaliatory strikes have resulted in civilian casualties. In Abu Dhabi, a civilian of Asian nationality was killed by falling debris from an intercepted missile. In Iran, state-run media reported that at least 40 students were killed in a strike on a girls' school in the southern city of Minab. This escalation follows a period of heightened tensions and failed diplomatic efforts to revive a nuclear deal. The U.S. had amassed a significant military presence in the region leading up to the strikes. Previous joint U.S.-Israeli operations in June 2025 had already caused substantial damage to Iran's nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, reportedly setting the program back by several years. International reaction has been swift, with many world leaders and organizations, including the European Union and the United Nations, expressing deep concern and calling for immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomacy. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have both issued statements condemning the Iranian attacks on their territories as a "flagrant violation" of sovereignty.
