Attacks Intesify on Day 2 of What We Know about “Operation Epic Fury” as Attacks Intensify on Day 2

2026-03-01 - 17:47

Here is what we know: As of 2nd March 2026, the Middle East has entered a period of intense military conflict following a large-scale joint offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran. The United States has named its campaign “Operation Epic Fury and Iran “Operation Lion’s Roar” Death of Irans Supreme Leader: Iranian state media and U.S. officials have confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his compound in Tehran on Saturday, February 28. Other high-ranking officials, including the commander of the Revolutionary Guards and Irans Minister of Defense, were also killed. Military Operations: The U.S. has dubbed its campaign “Operation Epic Fury,” while Israel has named its portion “Lion’s Roar”. President Trump stated that operations are “ahead of schedule” and aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure after negotiations in Geneva collapsed. Iranian Retaliation: Iran has launched waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel and several Gulf states that host U.S. military assets, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In retaliation, Iran’s UN Ambassador says it will target ‘all bases, facilities and assets’ of US, Israel. Casualties United States: U.S. Central Command at the Pentagon said three service members have been killed and five others seriously wounded in the operations. The troops are the first Americans to die in President Trump’s war with Iran. The Pentagon did not say where the troops were killed. Israel: At least nine people were killed in a missile strike on the city of Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem. Iran: According to Iranian officials, reports indicate over 200 deaths, including a strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran that reportedly killed nearly 150 people. Some Impacts Airspace Closures: Massive disruptions to global travel have occurred as Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and several Gulf nations closed their airspace, leading to the cancellation of thousands of flights. Oil Markets: There are growing fears of a global oil supply shock, especially with unconfirmed reports of a potential Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomatic Fallout: Russia has condemned the killing of Khamenei as a violation of international law. In the U.S., protests have broken out both in support of and against the military strikes. Succession in Iran A temporary leadership council has been established to govern Iran during the transitional period. It includes President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and senior cleric Alireza Arafi. Iranian officials have vowed that the “old guard” remains in control and will continue retaliatory strikes. No End in Sight Iran’s UN ambassador says it will target ‘all bases, facilities and assets’ of US, Israel. Meantime Trump has threatened Tehran with force ‘never seen before’ if it pursues retaliation after Khamenei’s death. Day 2: The Israel and the US have launched fresh waves of intensive attacks across Iran on the second day of their military campaign to overthrow the country’s government, which has plunged the Middle East into a new regional conflict with no certain timeline or outcome. The renewed violence comes amid heated rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran that suggests further escalation in the coming hours and days. Sources: Guardian, Associated Press, BBC, CENTCOM.