US and Israel Launch 'Epic Fury' Strikes on Iran
The U.S. and Israel have launched a large-scale joint military operation against Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran. President Trump confirmed the U.S. is engaged in "major combat operations" and, in a televised address, called on Iranians to "take over their government." The strikes, which Israel called "preemptive," have sent oil prices spiking and global stock markets tumbling.
The operation, dubbed "Epic Fury" by the Pentagon and "The Roar of the Lion" by Israel, follows weeks of escalating tensions and a significant U.S. military buildup in the region, the largest since the Iraq War. The strikes were launched after recent nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran concluded without an agreement. Iran immediately retaliated by launching dozens of missiles at Israel and U.S. military assets in multiple Gulf countries. Iranian missiles struck targets in Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with the UAE reporting one fatality from shrapnel. Iran's foreign ministry vowed a "decisive and definitive" response to what it called a "gross violation of Iran's territorial integrity." A key target in the initial wave of strikes was the Tehran compound of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though it was unclear if he was present. A U.S. official stated that while Israel is targeting Iranian leadership, U.S. forces are focused on military targets and ballistic missile sites that pose an "imminent threat." President Trump said the operation would target Iran's missile industry and navy. This marks a significant escalation following previous military action. In June 2025, the U.S. conducted airstrikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities, and Israel has also engaged in prior military exchanges with Iran. Despite previous U.S. claims that Iran's nuclear program had been destroyed, the current administration cited Iran's efforts to rebuild its program and develop long-range missiles as justification for the attack. International reaction has been sharply divided. Russia condemned the strikes as a "pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression," while the European Union described the situation as "perilous" and called for restraint. Norway and Spain criticized the attack as a violation of international law, whereas Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes created an opportunity for the Iranian people to oust the "terrorist regime."
