US and Israel Launch Major Strikes on Iran
The U.S. and Israel have launched coordinated military strikes against Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran. Israel’s defense ministry called the operation, codenamed “Epic Fury,” a “preemptive strike” against a serious threat. The escalation immediately spiked oil prices and sent stocks tumbling amid fears of a wider regional war. Following the strikes, President Trump released a video urging Iranians to “take over their government.”
The operation, dubbed "Epic Fury," included strikes in and around multiple Iranian cities, including the capital, Tehran, as well as Isfahan, Qom, and Kermanshah. Targets reportedly included the area near the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. President Trump stated the goals were to eliminate Iran's imminent threats and ensure it never acquires nuclear weapons. In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles at US military bases across the Middle East. Sirens and explosions were reported in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, as well as in Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Iran's Foreign Ministry declared all U.S. and Israeli interests in the region to be legitimate targets. International reaction has been swift and divided. Russia condemned the strikes as a "pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression." The European Union described the situation as "perilous," while Norway and Spain criticized the strikes as a violation of international law. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf states condemned the Iranian retaliatory missile strikes on their territories. The attacks follow a breakdown in high-stakes negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program. Just days earlier, Omani mediators had expressed hope that a deal was "within reach," with Iran reportedly agreeing to degrade its stockpiles of enriched uranium. However, the talks ultimately failed to produce an agreement, with the White House stating Iran was unwilling to meet necessary demands. This escalation follows a 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025, which also saw US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. After that conflict, Iran barred inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from its nuclear sites. The IAEA recently reported it could no longer verify the size or status of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, which was estimated at over 440 kg at 60% purity—a short step from weapons-grade. The strikes mark a new phase in a decades-long shadow war between Israel and Iran, which has been fought through proxy forces across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and various groups in Syria and Iraq. Relations between the U.S. and Iran have been hostile since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the subsequent hostage crisis.
