On February 28, 2026, American and Israeli forces joined to initiate joint military operations on Iran under the name ‘Operation Epic Fury’. A series of U.S.-led strikes aimed at Iranian oil supply, military bases, and nuclear facilities left the Middle East region descending into chaos and immense discourse.
The U.S. and Israeli strikes left devastating impacts on Iran only hours following the first batch. In the early hours of March 1, Iranian officials confirmed that the attacks from the U.S. killed Iran’s longtime Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. U.S. President Donald Trump declared Ali Khamenei’s death before the announcement from Iranian officials, “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump shared on a social media post. Ali Khamenei served as Iran’s longest-serving Supreme Leader, from June 1989 until his death in February 2026.
As of March 9, the damage and the death toll in the Middle East continue to rise. Al Jazeera reports almost 1,700 casualties across the Middle East, with 1,255 casualties reported in Iran alone, 400 casualties reported in Lebanon, both of which resulted from U.S.-Israel-led operations. Iran notes that over 100 of their casualties consisted of Iranian children after one strike hit an elementary school near an Iranian military base. Additionally, the U.S. Center Command (CENTCOM) also reports that eight casualties belong to the U.S. military.
The U.S. and Israel started Operation Epic Fury in anticipation that Iran might grow stronger with their access to nuclear resources. The preemptive strikes faced heavy controversy, even from U.S. officials including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, “Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon, but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home,” Schumer voiced his disagreement with the U.S. advancements on Iran.
In response to Operation Epic Fury, Iran retaliated with attacks of their own. Iranian strikes targeted U.S. military bases across the Middle East, along with Israeli military facilities in Tel Aviv. Nations across the Middle East, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, also served as targets for Iran’s strikes; however, a significant number of Iranian strikes failed due to interception. Despite the overwhelming bombardment from the U.S. and Israel, Iran refuses to surrender to the U.S., “Anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history. Aggressors have come and gone; Iran has endured,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian shares on X. With Ali Khamenei killed, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is his successor and the new Supreme Leader of Iran.
Similarly, the U.S. and Israel show a lack of interest in stopping their operations in Iran. Trump vowed to keep pressure on Iran with intense military operations, and he also urged the people of Iran to ‘overthrow’ the Iranian government following the killing of Ali Khamenei, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations.”
Tensions in the Middle East seem to reach their highest point with the U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hesgeth claiming that the most intense series of attacks on Iran since the conflict’s beginning will start on March 10.
