U.S. and Israel Launch Strikes on Iran
The U.S. and Israel have launched a major joint airstrike on Iran, codenamed “Epic Fury,” with explosions reported in Tehran. Israel’s Ministry of Defense called it a “preemptive strike” against an “extremely serious” threat. Following the attack, President Trump released a video urging the Iranian people to “take over their government.” However, senior U.S. intelligence sources say there is no classified intelligence to support Trump's claim that Iran is building missiles capable of hitting the U.S.
Tensions leading to this week's airstrikes escalated after nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, which resumed in February 2026, failed to produce an agreement. Those talks were a renewed effort following a 12-day war in June 2025, which began after a previous two-month deadline for a deal, set by President Trump, expired. The U.S. and Israel have a long history of close military cooperation, formalized by a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (2019-2028) that provides Israel with $3.3 billion annually in foreign military financing and $500 million for missile defense programs. The two nations regularly conduct joint military exercises, such as "Juniper Oak," and the U.S. maintains a War Reserve Stockpile in Israel. Iran's economy has been in a prolonged crisis due to international sanctions, mismanagement, and corruption, leading to soaring inflation and a significant increase in poverty. This has fueled widespread protests, with the most recent and extensive demonstrations since 2022 beginning in late 2025 over the dire economic situation. In response to the strikes, Iran has targeted U.S. military bases across the Middle East, including installations in Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain. Pro-Iranian militant groups in Iraq have also threatened to begin attacking U.S. bases in the region. Fears of a wider conflict disrupting global oil supplies have caused prices to spike, with analysts predicting a surge to $80 a barrel. A significant risk is the potential disruption of oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which about 20% of the world's total daily oil consumption passes. While President Trump has asserted that Iran is developing missiles capable of reaching the U.S., senior intelligence sources have stated there is no evidence to support this claim. A 2025 Defense Intelligence Agency assessment projected that Iran could potentially develop a "militarily-viable" intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 if it chose to. Iran possesses the largest ballistic missile inventory in the Middle East, which poses a significant threat to U.S. forces and allies in the region. International reaction has been mixed, with European leaders urging "maximum restraint" to avoid further escalation. Russia condemned the strikes as a "preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression," accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of pursuing regime change.
