On February 28, 2026, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched Operation Epic Fury, a large-scale joint military operation with Israeli forces against Iran, authorized by President Donald Trump.
The campaign, which commenced in the early morning hours (around 1:15 a.m. ET, or mid-morning local time in Iran), aims to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus, nuclear threats, ballistic missile capabilities, and leadership structures posing imminent dangers to U.S. and allied interests.
Strikes targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command and control facilities, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, military airfields, and sites linked to Iran’s nuclear program. Precision munitions were fired from air, land, and sea platforms, including Tomahawk missiles from U.S. Navy vessels.
Historic First in Epic Fury: CENTCOM Unleashes Low-Cost One-Way Drones
Notably, CENTCOM’s Task Force Scorpion Strike deployed low-cost one-way attack drones—formally the Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS), nicknamed “kamikaze” drones and costing about $35,000 each—for the first time in combat, a significant cost-saving innovation compared to assets like the MQ-9 Reaper, as reported by Newsweek.
Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, highlighted the mission’s urgency, stating that the President directed bold action and U.S. forces across branches are executing it with precision. U.S. Central Command’s full article can be read here.
The operation features the largest regional concentration of American military power in decades, including two aircraft carriers and extensive air assets prepositioned in recent weeks, per analyses from Flight Global and USNI News.
Israeli parallel efforts, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion (or Raging Lion in some accounts), complemented U.S. actions with strikes on similar high-value targets, including reports of impacts near Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound and the targeting or elimination of senior IRGC figures, according to updates in Breaking Defense and regional intelligence sources.
Iran retaliated swiftly, launching hundreds of missiles and drones at U.S. bases and allied sites in Bahrain (including NAVCENT/5th Fleet headquarters), Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, and Israel. Explosions occurred across these locations, with counterstrikes continuing for over eight hours.
Allied defenses intercepted most threats, leading to minimal damage at U.S. installations and no confirmed American casualties or combat injuries as of the latest CENTCOM statements, referenced in Fox News.
Iran has claimed civilian casualties, including at a school, which CENTCOM is assessing.
As the President stated, our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.
The President ordered bold action. CENTCOM forces are delivering an overwhelming and unrelenting blow. pic.twitter.com/B0k5gV4YnU
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 28, 2026
“Massive & Ongoing”
In an eight-minute video on Truth Social, President Trump described the operation as “massive and ongoing,” aimed at preventing threats from a “wicked, radical dictatorship” and urged Iranian forces to stand down while calling on civilians to overthrow the regime for freedom amid protests and crackdowns. Trump emphasized blocking nuclear weapon development and protecting U.S. interests, framing it as a high-risk, high-reward endeavor, per Reuters.
As of 12:18 p.m. CST on February 28, 2026, explosions continue in Tehran, Isfahan, and other areas, with risks of escalation, potential Strait of Hormuz disruptions affecting global oil, and questions about long-term sustainability amid concerns about munitions and regional stability.
No regime collapse has materialized, but the strikes represent a major escalation beyond prior limited actions.
This is a developing story based on reports as of February 28, 2026. Information will evolve quickly.
For more in-depth prior coverage on Operation Epic Fury and related developments, check out these key reports from The Dallas Express:
- Trump Says Khamenei Is Dead, Iranian Forces Seeking Immunity, Urges Iranians To “Take Back” Country
- “Operation Epic Fury Unleashed: The World Is Watching”
- “First Combat Use: How CENTCOM’s Budget One-Way Attack Drones Changed The Game In Operation Epic Fury”
- “President Trump Announces ‘Major Combat Operations’ As U.S., Israel Strike Iran”
- “Missile Attack Reported At U.S. Navy 5th Fleet Service Center In Bahrain”
