U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday urged American service members to “stay focused” as Operation Epic Fury — a coordinated U.S.–Israeli campaign launched this weekend — continues to strike Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. The operation began on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, and U.S. officials say it has targeted ballistic missile sites, naval assets and command-and-control nodes across Iran. U.S. and allied officials say the opening strikes killed dozens of senior Iranian figures and severely degraded Tehran’s missile, naval and enrichment capabilities; Iran and some outside monitors dispute or have not independently confirmed every claim.
Key takeaways
- Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28, 2026, in coordinated U.S.–Israeli strikes aimed at Iranian missile, naval and nuclear-related sites, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.
- U.S. officials and President Trump have said dozens of Iranian leaders — including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — were eliminated in the opening wave; independent verification is incomplete and contested.
- CENTCOM and U.S. officials report major maritime action: U.S. forces say they destroyed Iranian naval vessels near the Strait of Hormuz; reported vessel counts differ between 10–11 ships sunk or neutralized.
- As of March 2, U.S. Central Command reported combat-related U.S. fatalities (six service members killed) and the recovery of remains of previously unaccounted-for personnel.
- Iran has launched widespread missile and drone counterstrikes across the region (Bahrain, Israel, Gulf states), producing military and diplomatic spillover and prompting embassy and travel advisories.
- NetBlocks reported Iran’s nationwide internet outage exceeded 60 hours, hampering independent reporting and civilian communications within Iran.
- Allied responses vary: some NATO members resisted base use or urged restraint; other regional partners provided air defenses or intelligence support.
Background
Tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran have escalated across successive administrations over Iran’s nuclear program, missile development and support for regional proxies. U.S. policy has included sanctions, targeted strikes (for example, prior campaigns described as Operation Midnight Hammer), and persistent intelligence and naval pressure aimed at reducing Tehran’s ability to threaten regional shipping and allied forces.
In the days and weeks leading to the Feb. 28 operation, U.S. officials asserted that Iran was expanding missile production and concealing enriched uranium stocks that, they said, could shorten the time to a weapon. Israel described parallel threats, and U.S.–Israeli planning reportedly intensified to remove perceived imminent capabilities. Diplomacy, according to the White House notice to Congress, was judged insufficient to halt those programs.
Main event
The operation began with air and sea strikes directed at ballistic missile sites, naval assets and command-and-control nodes. U.S. and Israeli officials provided footage and statements describing precision strikes on surface-to-surface missile infrastructure, naval platforms in the Gulf of Oman and communications facilities in Tehran. Pentagon and CENTCOM briefings emphasized coordinated use of air, sea, cyber and space tools to limit Iran’s ability to respond in an organized way.
President Trump and senior officials described high-value leadership losses among Iran’s top ranks in the opening wave; Trump publicly stated the removal of 49 senior figures and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. CENTCOM and U.S. military spokespeople stressed the strikes targeted military capabilities — missiles, naval vessels and enrichment sites — and said no U.S. ground forces were used.
Iran responded with large-scale missile and drone attacks toward Israel, U.S. bases and Gulf states. Reported counterstrikes included barrages aimed at Tel Aviv and defensive actions in Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. Regional air defenses and allied interceptors engaged many incoming rockets and drones, and some missiles reportedly penetrated layered defenses. Maritime risks rose as Iran declared closure of the Strait of Hormuz while U.S. officials said commerce continued and commercial traffic largely avoided the area.
Analysis & implications
Strategically, the strikes represent an attempt to reset deterrence by degrading Iran’s ability to mass missiles and mount coordinated attacks on regional partners and shipping lanes. If sustained, the campaign could materially slow Iranian missile production and complicate enrichment activities, but it also risks protracted asymmetric retaliation by Tehran and its proxies, including strikes against shipping, energy infrastructure and allied installations across the Middle East.
Economically, disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and threats to commercial shipping already pushed oil and gasoline price indicators higher in early trading. Short-term price volatility is likely if shipping remains diverted or if Iran mines the waterway. Longer-term market impacts depend on the duration of hostilities and the extent of damage to energy facilities.
Politically, the operation exposes fractures among U.S. partners: some European and regional states urged de-escalation or limited base access, while others provided air defenses and logistical support. Domestic politics in multiple countries will shape future coalition cohesion and intelligence-sharing arrangements. The operation also raises legal and oversight questions: the White House invoked commander-in-chief authority and issued a formal War Powers notice to Congress, a move certain to prompt legislative scrutiny.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Reported figure | Source (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. combat fatalities | Six (as of Mar. 2) | CENTCOM (military) |
| Iranian leadership fatalities | Dozens (U.S./Israeli claim; 49 cited by President) | U.S. statement / Presidential remarks |
| Iranian naval vessels destroyed | 10–11 reported sunk/neutralized | U.S. officials / CENTCOM |
| Missiles/drones launched at region | Multiple waves; Bahrain reported 70 missiles, 59 drones | Bahrain ministry / regional reporting |
| Domestic internet in Iran | Outage >60 hours | NetBlocks (independent monitor) |
The table summarizes the principal, publicly reported figures and their immediate sources. Numbers come from a mix of military statements, national leaders and independent monitors; they diverge where battlefield claims and independent verification differ. Readers should note that battlefield reporting in active operations often yields revised totals as assessments continue.
Reactions & quotes
Senior U.S. civilian and military leaders framed the operation as necessary to remove imminent threats while urging troops and partners to maintain discipline.
“We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it — stay focused, stay disciplined,”
Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of War (statement)
President Trump framed the operation as decisive and said it was America’s “last, best chance” to degrade Iran’s capabilities.
“Operation Epic Fury is our last, best chance to strike…we’ll destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,”
President Donald J. Trump (public remarks)
CENTCOM and Joint Chiefs leaders emphasized precision and combined effects while acknowledging ongoing combat and casualty reporting.
“U.S. forces are hitting Iran surgically, overwhelmingly, and unapologetically. Major combat operations continue,”
U.S. Central Command (official post)
Unconfirmed
- Independent international verification of the deaths of specific Iranian senior leaders — including confirmation beyond U.S. and Israeli announcements — remains incomplete.
- Contradictory maritime loss counts: U.S. officials and Iranian statements differ on the exact number of naval vessels destroyed or disabled near the Strait of Hormuz.
- Reports that Iran “closed” the Strait of Hormuz and would “set ablaze” transiting vessels have not been confirmed by neutral maritime authorities; commercial traffic is being rerouted as a precaution.
- Allegations of specific civilian casualty counts and civilian-site damage in Iran reported in some social media items and local statements are not yet independently corroborated.
Bottom line
Operation Epic Fury marks a major and escalatory step in U.S.–Israeli efforts to degrade Iran’s missile, naval and nuclear-related capabilities. U.S. and allied leaders portray the operation as narrowly focused on military objectives and essential to restoring deterrence; Tehran and some regional actors view it as a significant escalation with broad regional risks.
Expect continued kinetic exchanges, maritime disruption and diplomatic strain in the near term. Key items to watch: independent confirmation of leadership casualties, verified assessments of damage to nuclear facilities, coalition cohesion among U.S. partners, and the trajectory of energy-market responses driven by Strait of Hormuz risks.