Operation Epic Fury Escalates US Military Campaign
US Strikes Iran: Operation Epic Fury Escalates US Military Campaign.
The United States sharply increased its military operations across Iran on Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the latest attacks as the campaign’s most intense day.
Meanwhile, Operation Epic Fury focused on nuclear facilities, missile launchers, and strategic military infrastructure.
At the same time, American forces struck drone factories and naval assets across several regions.
Initially, calm statements from Washington suggested the conflict might soon slow down.
However, the scale of the new strikes shows the campaign still carries significant momentum.
Pentagon Details Thousands of Military Targets Hit
During a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth appeared beside Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine.
Caine explained that US forces already struck more than 5,000 military targets.
Additionally, American operations destroyed over 50 Iranian naval vessels since the campaign began.
US aircraft also targeted drone factories to weaken Iran’s autonomous weapons capabilities.
Furthermore, military crews deployed 2,000-pound GPS-guided bunker-buster bombs against underground missile launchers.
These weapons penetrated deeply buried facilities protected by reinforced structures.
Consequently, Iranian ballistic missile attacks have started to decrease across the region.
Iran Accused of Launching Missiles Near Civilian Areas
At the briefing, Hegseth strongly criticized Iranian military tactics.
He claimed Iran launched missiles from neighborhoods close to schools and hospitals.
According to Hegseth, these tactics aimed to complicate American counterstrikes.
Moreover, he argued that Iran now stands increasingly isolated in the conflict.
Regional allies such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis reportedly struggle to influence events.
School Strike Raises Global Concerns
However, reports of civilian casualties quickly sparked international alarm.
A strike reportedly hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school earlier in the campaign.
The attack killed more than 165 people, including many students aged seven to twelve.
Rescue teams described two explosions occurring within minutes at the location.
Meanwhile, an early US assessment suggested American forces likely caused the strike.
Investigators believe outdated intelligence mistakenly linked the school to a nearby IRGC naval base.
Leadership Changes and Uncertain Diplomacy
Political developments inside Iran added new uncertainty to the crisis.
Reports indicated that Ali Khamenei died during the first wave of US strikes.
Soon afterward, Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the role of Iran’s new supreme leader.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump hinted that negotiations with Iran might still occur.
However, earlier statements demanded unconditional surrender from Tehran.
Pentagon Rejects Another Endless War
Despite the escalation, US officials insist the conflict will remain limited.
Hegseth emphasized that America will avoid another long Middle East war.
He argued the United States refuses to accept nuclear threats or missile blackmail.
For now, Operation Epic Fury continues reshaping the battlefield across Iran.
