Operation Epic Fury and Roaring Lion: Reshaping global power
For nearly 50 years, Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, has used its forces and proxies to kill and wound Americans worldwide, contributing to the deaths of over 1,000 Americans. This persistent threat continues to cast a shadow over the international community.
Before 1979, Iran was a Western-aligned nation under the Shah. Women held many freedoms comparable to those in the U.S: they could vote, dress without mandates, work, and study. Yet the Shah’s rule was not without flaws, as political dissent was suppressed and wealth disparity remained significant. The 1979 Islamic Revolution marked a drastic turning point, replacing the monarchy with a theocratic regime that imposed radical Sharia law, expanded internal repression, enforced dress codes, and broadened proxy warfare. Iran and its leadership completely reoriented its position on the global stage, standing in dangerous opposition to the U.S and its allies.
In the decades since, Iran has pursued nuclear capabilities through missile development and the enrichment of weapons-grade nuclear material. In June 2025, the U.S carried out Operation Midnight Hammer, devastating key components of Iran’s nuclear program, including the elimination of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment plant. Despite these efforts, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continued to advance its nuclear goals, maintaining a threat to U.S. forces and allied nations.
At the same time, internal unrest intensified dramatically. Beginning in late December 2025 and peaking on January 8 and 9, Iranians nationwide were met with a violent crackdown for protesting against their brutal regime and failing economy. Security forces raided hospitals and arrested protesters; a near-total internet blackdown attempted to mask the IRGC’s scope of violence. While exact figures remain uncertain, the January 8-9 death toll is believed to be over 36,5000, standing out as one of the most severe waves of repression that Iran has seen in decades. These internal figures collided with tension between the U.S and Iran, and President Trump called for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to be ousted, urging for a 25 percent tariff on countries engaging in business with Iran.
Amid this backdrop, Iran entered negotiations with the U.S. while asserting that it had sufficient uranium to build 11 nuclear bombs. Shortly after, on February 28, the U.S and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion, respectively: a joint military campaign against Iran. In a coordinated strike, over 100 aircraft from sea and land struck over 1,000 Iranian targets within 24 hours, including command centers, missile infrastructure, and naval assets.
U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth termed the operation as “laser-focused” on destroying Iran’s offensive missile capabilities, production infrastructure, naval power, and broader security network. According to Air Force General Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the operation reflected “months, and…years, of deliberate planning…” Secretary of State Rubio said, “The Department of War assessed that if we…waited for them to hit us first…we would suffer more casualties and more deaths. We went proactively in a defensive way to prevent them from inflicting higher damage.” It is perilous to bargain with the devil, and that is very transparent with Iran.
Strategic locations were at risk, including Kharg Island, the backbone of Iran’s oil export hub and a major global supply chain. On March 13, U.S forces bombed Kharg Island, eliminating military targets and warning of possible attacks on oil facilities if Iran disrupts shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump explained that strikes on oil pipelines remain tentative “for purposes of someday rebuilding [Iran]…”
Tactical strikes resulted in the deaths of 40 Iranian regime officials. Within hours, the IRGC’s ruthless Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with several Iranian leaders, was killed in a targeted operation following years of Israeli intelligence tracking Khamenei’s movements. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, wounded in the airstrike, is the likely successor, although his situation remains uncertain. On March 16, Larijani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and its de facto leader, was also killed by an Israeli military airstrike.
Israel and the U.S. are gaining ground against the IRGC and its terror networks, with the goal of creating a stable future both globally and for the Iranian people. Since 1979, Iran’s radical clerical leadership has maintained a clear objective to destroy the U.S and its allies: “Great Satan” (U.S) and “Little Satan” (Israel). Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “We are in historic days. We are crushing the terrorist regime in Iran…[and] striking…its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion signal a shift in military strategy. By acting preemptively, the U.S and Israel minimize the risk of future attacks. While the outcome of Iran’s future leadership and global standing remains uncertain, the operations affirm a shared value in confronting existential threats. Will this lead to a new chapter of lasting peace and prosperity for Iran and the free world?
