In the early morning hours of February 28, 2026, the United States launched Operation Epic Fury — a coordinated precision strike campaign against Iranian nuclear, military, and command infrastructure. Simultaneously, Israel conducted strikes against Iranian missile production facilities and IRGC leadership targets. Iran responded with True Promise 4, its most intense missile barrage against Israel to date.
What Triggered Epic Fury
The immediate trigger was intelligence indicating Iran had enriched uranium to 90% purity — weapons-grade — at its underground Fordow facility, combined with evidence of weaponization activities at Parchin. Diplomatic efforts had failed to halt the program, and the US and Israel determined that military action was necessary to prevent Iran from crossing the nuclear threshold.
However, the underlying causes were years of escalation: True Promise operations 1-3, Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, proxy strikes on US forces in Iraq and Syria, and the failure of the JCPOA revival talks.
The Opening Hours
The attack began at approximately 0400 local time (0030 UTC) with:
- Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from destroyers and submarines in the Arabian Sea and Mediterranean, targeting air defense radars and command nodes
- B-2 Spirit stealth bombers delivering GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators against the Fordow and Natanz underground nuclear facilities
- F-35 and F-15E strikes against IRGC command facilities, missile production plants, and drone factories
- Israeli Air Force strikes (F-35I Adir) against additional nuclear-related targets and IRGC Aerospace Force facilities
Key Targets
| Target Category | Examples | Weapons Used |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear facilities | Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan, Arak | GBU-57 MOP, GBU-28 |
| Air defense | S-300 batteries, radar sites | HARM, Tomahawk |
| IRGC command | Quds Force HQ, ASF command | Tomahawk, JDAM |
| Missile production | Parchin, Isfahan factories | JDAM, cruise missiles |
| Drone production | Shahed factories | Tomahawk, standoff munitions |
Iranian Response: True Promise 4
Within hours, Iran launched True Promise 4 — over 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli targets, accompanied by simultaneous Houthi attacks from Yemen and rocket attacks from Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. This was the most intense multi-axis attack Israel had ever faced.
Israeli and US air defenses intercepted the majority of incoming missiles, but the sheer volume resulted in several penetrations. Missiles struck near Tel Aviv, Haifa, and military installations in the Negev. Civilian casualties were reported for the first time from Iranian ballistic missiles.
Ongoing Operations
As of publication, operations continue. The US is conducting follow-on strikes against surviving military infrastructure, while Iran continues to launch ballistic missiles from underground facilities that survived the initial attack. The Houthi front in the Red Sea has intensified, with anti-ship missile attacks on commercial shipping.
Initial Assessment
Early assessments suggest:
- Iran's nuclear enrichment capability has been significantly degraded but not eliminated
- IRGC Aerospace Force has lost significant surface infrastructure but underground missile stocks remain
- Iran retains the ability to sustain retaliatory missile launches for an extended period
- Regional escalation risk remains high as proxy forces continue operations
The full consequences of Operation Epic Fury will unfold over weeks and months. What is already clear is that this represents the most significant US military operation in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.