Today, the United States and Israel launched a major coordinated military operation against Iran — a campaign the U.S. has dubbed Operation Epic Fury and Israel calls Roaring Lion. Air and missile strikes struck deep into Iranian territory, hitting military infrastructure, command centers, and government sites — including near Tehran — in what U.S. and Israeli officials claim was aimed at dismantling Iran’s strategic capabilities and preempting future threats from its nuclear program and ballistic missile forces.
In the hours that followed, Iran responded with a dramatic, multi-front counterattack, launching missiles and surveillance drones — including reported Shahed drones — at multiple countries across the Middle East. Iranian forces targeted U.S. military bases and allied facilities in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iraq, and Israel itself. Much of the incoming attack was intercepted, but panic, airspace closures, and isolated damage were reported across the region.
This historic escalation has thrust the Middle East into a new and dangerous phase, with global oil markets shaken, civilian casualties mounting, and fears of a broader conflict spreading. Iran’s retaliation — far beyond its own borders — reflects both its desperation after sustaining heavy blows and the strategic depth of its regional capabilities.
Importantly, Iran’s government remains one of the closest military and economic partners of Russia, a relationship that has shaped arms transfers, diplomatic support, and shared interests across multiple global crises. Russia has condemned the strikes and warned that the offensive risks a regional humanitarian and economic catastrophe, underscoring how this conflict now resonates far beyond the Gulf.
