US & Israel Launch Joint Strikes on Iran
The U.S. and Israel have launched joint military strikes against Iran in an operation dubbed “Epic Fury,” with explosions reported in Tehran. Israel called the campaign a "preemptive strike," while President Trump released a video message urging Iranians to “take over their government.” This marks a major escalation, with Trump stating the U.S. is carrying out “major combat operations.” The official justification cited an imminent threat from long-range missiles, a claim U.S. intelligence sources say is not backed up by current assessments.
This joint military action follows a period of escalating tensions, including a direct 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025. That conflict involved tit-for-tat airstrikes, with Israel targeting military commanders and nuclear scientists, and Iran responding with missile and drone attacks on Israeli military sites. The U.S. entered the conflict by striking three Iranian nuclear facilities, to which Iran retaliated by firing missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar. The current strikes target a wide array of Iranian military infrastructure, including missile production and storage sites, naval bases, and command centers. At least one explosion was reported near the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly launched missile attacks on at least four U.S. bases in the region, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. This escalation occurs against a backdrop of significant domestic unrest within Iran. Widespread protests, initially sparked by a deepening economic crisis, have grown to include anti-government slogans and calls for the overthrow of the regime. The government has responded with severe crackdowns, mass arrests, and increased security presence. Some analysts suggest the convergence of external military threats and internal instability is making the Iranian regime more aggressive in suppressing dissent. Iran possesses the largest and most diverse ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East, with some missiles capable of reaching targets up to 2,000 kilometers away, covering all of the Middle East and parts of Europe. Its inventory includes the Sejjil, a solid-fuel missile with a range of up to 2,500 km, and the Khorramshahr-4, which can carry a 1,500 kg warhead. The country also has cruise missiles and has developed hypersonic missile technology, which can be difficult to intercept. The immediate economic impact centers on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. Approximately 21% of the world's daily petroleum liquids consumption, and about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas, passes through the strait. Any prolonged disruption could lead to substantial supply delays and a significant increase in world energy prices. The U.S. and Israel have a long history of close military cooperation, including regular joint exercises such as the "Juniper Oak" and "Austere Challenge" drills, which involve thousands of troops and advanced military assets. The U.S. provides Israel with billions of dollars in military aid annually and has stockpiled military equipment in the country. This deep-seated alliance forms the strategic backbone of the current joint operations.
