U.S. and Israel Unleash Operation Epic Fury: Massive Airstrikes Hammer Iranian Military and Nuclear Sites

 It's hard to overstate how quickly things have spiraled. What started as targeted operations against Iran's leadership and nuclear program has exploded into a full-scale air war. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury — a coordinated, overwhelming campaign of airstrikes that has already reshaped the battlefield in the Middle East.

The opening wave was massive. U.S. forces deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, B-1B Lancers, B-52 Stratofortresses, Tomahawk cruise missiles, PrSM (Precision Strike Missiles), and swarms of fighter jets. Israel contributed its own F-35s, F-15s, and F-16s in synchronized strikes. Together, they hit Iranian air defense networks, nuclear enrichment facilities (Natanz and related sites among them), IRGC headquarters in Tehran, missile production centers, military airfields, command bunkers, and naval assets in the Persian Gulf.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke bluntly in a late-night briefing: the goal is to achieve uncontested control of Iranian airspace within days, followed by sustained, precision strikes until Iran's ability to threaten the region — through missiles, drones, proxies, or nuclear breakout — is dismantled. He described the operation as "decisive" and "ongoing," with no immediate off-ramp signaled.

Iran's response has been fierce but asymmetrical so far. President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior advisor Ali Larijani appeared on state television claiming significant U.S. casualties (unverified numbers circulated on Iranian channels) and promising a "crushing retaliation that will be felt across the region." Missile barrages have already struck U.S. bases in Kuwait and other Gulf locations, with reports of American service members killed and injured. Iran has also shut down transit through the Strait of Hormuz — a move that alone sent global oil prices rocketing.

The human cost is mounting fast. Iranian state media and the Red Crescent report hundreds of deaths, including civilians near military sites. In Israel, missile intercepts have saved lives but shrapnel and debris have killed and wounded civilians. The Gulf is in chaos — airports partially closed, shipping halted, and expatriate communities (including many Pakistanis) bracing for disruptions.

From a Pakistani perspective — especially here in Punjab — this isn't just distant news. Oil prices surging over 90% in days will feed straight into higher petrol, diesel, and electricity costs. Remittances from the Gulf could face delays if travel and work get hit. And the uncertainty alone is enough to make families anxious about loved ones in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, or Kuwait.

What stands out most is how quickly the rhetoric has hardened on both sides. The U.S. and Israel frame this as a necessary pre-emptive blow to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran and eliminate its missile threat. Iran calls it an act of war and aggression that demands total revenge. Neither side is blinking.

We're only on day four, and the momentum feels unstoppable. Praying for a path back to de-escalation before more lives are lost and the region — and the world — pays an even heavier price. For now, all eyes are on Tehran, Tel Aviv, Washington, and the skies above the Gulf.

Stand For Pakistan — in moments like these, staying informed, protecting our people abroad, and hoping for wisdom from leaders is all we can do. Peace isn't just ideal; it's survival. 🇵🇰