The Fog of War Descends

The day following Operation Epic Fury has brought the fog of war descending over the entire region. Numerous reports are emerging, many of which are difficult to verify, but both sides are making public claims. What can be confirmed is that Operation Epic Fury (U.S.) and Operation Roaring Lion (Israel) began shortly after 9 a.m. local time in Iran on February 28, 2026. These operations have consisted of continuous airstrike sorties over Iran, primarily targeting ballistic missile sites, military infrastructure, and military and government personnel.

(Stringer/Getty Images)

The objective of the Americans is an Iranian regime change, followed by a civilian uprising toward an as-yet-unstated end. The United States has committed significant air and naval assets, including the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea and the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Mediterranean. The Israelis are participating through coordinated airstrikes. No ground forces have been activated as of this point.

Iran’s response has been a scattershot barrage of missiles launched across the Middle East, targeting Israel as well as American bases in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Bahrain. These retaliatory strikes have had limited impact due to the advanced missile defense systems deployed by Israel and the United States. Rumors are circulating that Hezbollah in Lebanon has been activated, as well as The Houthis in Yemen though this remains speculative. Full activation of Iranian proxies would add a new dimension to the conflict, expanding its geographic scope and adding new economic pressure specifically at the Strait of Hormuz, though the strength and readiness of these proxies are uncertain.

A map detailing some of the most prominent Iranian proxy organizations. (The Soufan center)

The United States has suffered minimal casualties, though reports confirm that three American service members have been killed and another five injured. On the Iranian side, numerous government and military officials have been killed — most notably Ayatollah Khamenei himself, reportedly targeted at one of his residences. This loss of leadership may help explain the inconsistency in Iran’s response.

Considerable propaganda is circulating online with various motives. Claims that the Ayatollah is still alive or that the USS Abraham Lincoln was struck by Iranian missiles appear to be baseless, given the lack of credible evidence and indications of AI-generated fabrications - though only time will tell.

What an incredible show of force and military excellence by the United States to take out the biggest sponsor of state terror in the world. Operation Epic Fury has and continues to be a massive success.

And the lightning that brings Frankenstein to life crashes into the middle east. With our needless involvement in someone else's conflict, we are creating a rival nuclear superpower to rival ourselves and giving them a vital strategic geography. Who does this administration work for?

Unilateral declarations of war cannot be taken sitting down. Congress declares wars, not the executive. This will be used in the upcoming midterms and if it falls apart bad enough that just more ammo.