Rubio: 'Hardest Hits' for Iran 'Are Yet to Come'

The current conflict represents the second major U.S. military action against Iran in the last eight months, following "Operation Midnight Hammer" in June 2025. The new offensive, which began on February 28, 2026, is a joint operation with Israel and has been dubbed "Operation Epic Fury" by the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated the U.S. strikes were a preemptive move after learning Israel was prepared to attack Iran, which would have triggered retaliation against American forces. This justification differs from that of President Trump, who has cited Iran's nuclear program and its threat to U.S. national security interests as the primary reasons for the military action. The stated objectives of the U.S. military operation include the destruction of Iran's ballistic missile and naval capabilities. President Trump has outlined a broader set of goals, which also include ending Iran's nuclear ambitions and its support for terrorist organizations in the region. The conflict has already resulted in casualties, with the Pentagon reporting that six U.S. service members have been killed in the operations. Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes against U.S. bases in several Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain, and has also targeted Israel. The U.S. and Israeli strikes have targeted a wide array of sites in Iran, including leadership locations, nuclear facilities, and military command centers. In response to the initial assault, Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in a strike. The military escalation has generated a split response in Congress, with some members supporting the action while others have condemned it as an unlawful war initiated without congressional authorization. Critics argue that President Trump has exceeded his authority by launching a major military operation without a formal declaration of war.