Operation Epic Fury: The US-Israeli Push for Regime Change in Iran
In an unprecedented military strike, the United States and Israel have launched a joint operation, known as Operation Epic Fury,
against Iran. The operation, which has resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, aims at regime change in the Islamic Republic, a goal declared by both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Background and Context
The operation comes in the wake of Tehran's refusal to negotiate with the United States and its preparedness for a long war, as stated by Iran's top official, Ali Larijani. The conflict, which is seen as a direct consequence of the Iraq campaign two decades earlier, has seen significant differences from previous regime-change projects in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Key Developments
The US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury at the end of winter 2026. It was a daring daylight strike on a clear Saturday in Tehran, targeting the Islamic Republic of Iran. President Donald Trump, in his address to the nation, called it major combat operations
against Iran.
The operation has resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking a shift from pressure tactics to deep structural destabilisation. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the attacks have killed over 200 people.
Reactions and Implications
The operation has been met with mixed reactions globally. US Congress is split on the strikes, with Republicans broadly supporting President Donald Trump while Democrats criticize his “major combat operation” as an undeclared war.
Iran's secretary for its Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larjani, accused President Trump of putting Israel above American interests, plunging the region into chaos with his delusional fantasies.
Former US diplomat Henry Ensher warned that this war might push Iran to a nuclear deterrent as a defensive necessity. Peter Ricketts, a British peer and former diplomat, criticized the war's vague and unachievable objectives.
Current Status
As of now, the conflict continues with President Trump suggesting that the war could continue for up to a month. However, Tehran has responded by launching retaliatory strikes against targets in Israel as well as US bases in the region.
Given the complexity and unpredictability of the situation, it remains to be seen how far both the United States and Iran are willing to go in this conflict.