Operation Epic Fury: The US-Israel War Against Iran
A chronological account of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran in 2025–2026, from the nuclear strikes of Operation Midnight Hammer through the full-scale Operation Epic Fury. Based on verified facts from George Vișan's policy brief (Romanian Diplomatic Institute, Policy Brief no. 92/2026).
2024-01-01
Iran-Israel tensions escalate with direct attacks
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Throughout 2024, Iran and Israel engage in direct military confrontations. Tehran is suspected of supporting Hamas in an effort to block reconciliation under the Abraham Accords framework.
2025-06-01
Israel launches Operation Midnight Hammer
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Israel initiates Operation Midnight Hammer — a series of strikes aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear infrastructure, including uranium enrichment facilities. US forces join the operation.
2026-01-27
Iranian regime crushes domestic protests
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The Iranian regime violently suppresses domestic protests that erupted in January 2026, resulting in over 30,000 casualties according to Euronews.
2026-02-17
US and Iran report progress in Geneva nuclear talks
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American and Iranian delegations report progress during nuclear negotiations held in Geneva, raising cautious hopes for a diplomatic resolution (Axios).
2026-02-19
US signals NATO should limit role to North Atlantic
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The United States signals that NATO should confine its operational scope to the North Atlantic zone only, raising questions about alliance cohesion (Politico).
2026-02-22
NYT reports Iran's war and survival preparations
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The New York Times reports that Iran has been making extensive preparations for war, including survival plans for its leadership and military infrastructure.
2026-02-26
Last round of US-Iran nuclear talks ends 'positively'
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The final round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations concludes with official communiqués describing the outcome as 'positive' (Axios). In retrospect, this was the last diplomatic window before military esc...
The final round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations concludes with official communiqués describing the outcome as 'positive' (Axios). In retrospect, this was the last diplomatic window before military escalation.
2026-02-28
Operation Epic Fury begins — E3 not consulted
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The US launches Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The UK, France, and Germany issue a joint leaders' statement revealing they were not consulted before the operation began (Gov.uk, Élysée, Bundeskanzl...
The US launches Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The UK, France, and Germany issue a joint leaders' statement revealing they were not consulted before the operation began (Gov.uk, Élysée, Bundeskanzler.de).
2026-03-02
Rubio publicly confirms Operation Epic Fury
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirms the operation: 'The United States is conducting an operation to eliminate the threat of Iran's short-range ballistic missiles and the threat posed by their navy...
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirms the operation: 'The United States is conducting an operation to eliminate the threat of Iran's short-range ballistic missiles and the threat posed by their navy' (Department of State).
2026-03-02
Spain's PM Sánchez condemns the intervention
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez becomes the only European leader to condemn the US-Israeli intervention in harsh terms (Euronews).
2026-03-03
Ayatollah Khamenei eliminated in strike
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Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei is killed along with a significant part of Iran's military, paramilitary, and political elite (Al Jazeera). The strike decapitates Iran's leadership structure.
2026-03-07
US polls show no 'rally around the flag' effect
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Six US polls show no public support for Operation Epic Fury, with no 'rally around the flag' effect materializing — an unusual pattern for the opening phase of a military campaign (CNN).
2026-03-09
Mojtaba Khamenei chosen as new Supreme Leader
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Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah, is selected as Iran's new Supreme Leader with the backing of the Revolutionary Guards (NYT). The move signals continuity rather than reform.
2026-03-09
Iran digging to recover buried uranium
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Reports emerge that Iran has been digging to recover uranium from centrifuges buried during the 2025 American bombardments under Operation Midnight Hammer (Spaniel/YouTube).
2026-03-10
~1,000 Patriot interceptors fired against Iranian missiles
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Approximately 1,000 Patriot interceptors of all types are fired by Gulf states and US forces against Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, marking an unprecedented expenditure of air defense assets (...
Approximately 1,000 Patriot interceptors of all types are fired by Gulf states and US forces against Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, marking an unprecedented expenditure of air defense assets (Bloomberg).
2026-03-10
US destroys 16 Iranian naval vessels
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The US Navy destroys 16 Iranian naval vessels amid growing concerns that Iran is laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz (Axios).
2026-03-10
Iranian missile toward Turkey neutralized by SM-3
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An Iranian ballistic missile fired toward Turkey is neutralized by an SM-3 interceptor, marking a direct Iranian attack on a NATO member state (Anadolu Agency; Militarnyi).
2026-03-11
Iran lays mines in Strait of Hormuz
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Iran has laid approximately a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening the world's most important oil chokepoint (Reuters).
2026-03-11
US strike hits Iranian school
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A US strike reportedly hits an Iranian school, according to a preliminary inquiry (NYT). The incident fuels international criticism of the campaign.
2026-03-12
US confirms Iran is mining Strait of Hormuz
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US officials confirm that Iran is actively laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, validating earlier reports and raising global energy security concerns (NYT).
2026-03-19
Iranian attacks wipe out 17% of Qatar's LNG capacity
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Iranian strikes destroy 17% of Qatar's liquefied natural gas production capacity, directly impacting global energy markets (Reuters).
2026-03-19
20,000 seafarers stranded in Persian Gulf
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The IMO Secretary-General reports that approximately 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the conflict, creating a major humanitarian crisis at sea (Ship & Bunker).
2026-03-20
Trump: Iran will need '10 years' to rebuild
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President Trump tells MS NOW that it will take Iran '10 years' to rebuild, stating the objective is preventing a nuclear weapon rather than regime change per se.
2026-03-20
Romania joins Strait of Hormuz navigation declaration
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Romania joins a diplomatic declaration alongside the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Japan affirming freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz (Administrația Prezidențială).
2026-03-20
Ukraine deploys drone-intercept units to 5 Middle East countries
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Ukraine deploys military units to five Middle East countries to assist with drone interception, leveraging its battlefield experience against Shahed-type drones (Defense News).
2026-03-22
Iran fires ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia
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Iran fires ballistic missiles at the British military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. It remains unclear whether the missiles failed or were intercepted by Aegis systems (BBC).
2026-03-25
Pew confirms Americans broadly disapprove of Iran action
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Pew Research Center confirms that Americans broadly disapprove of US military action in Iran, reinforcing earlier polling that showed no public support for the campaign.
2026-03-27
CSIS: 850 Tomahawks launched — most in any single campaign
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A CSIS analysis reveals that 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles have been launched during Operation Epic Fury — the highest number ever fired in a single military campaign.
2026-03-28
European allies say Russia is helping Iran covertly
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European allies report that Russia is assisting Iran more than the US has publicly acknowledged, including intelligence sharing and improved Shahed drone technology (CBS News, NBC News).
2026-03-30
Rubio reiterates US war objectives
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterates the three core objectives: eliminate Iran's navy, destroy missile launchers, and wipe out Iran's defense industrial base (Department of State / ABC).
2026-03-30
Zelensky: Russia is winning from Iran war
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Ukrainian President Zelensky warns that Russia is the strategic beneficiary of the Iran conflict, as it diverts international attention from the Ukraine peace process (Axios).
2026-03-31
Italy refuses US aircraft use of Sicily base
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Italy refuses to allow US aircraft to use its military base in Sicily for Middle East operations, marking a significant break in allied cooperation (Reuters).
2026-03-31
US has hit over 12,500 Iranian targets
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The US has struck over 12,500 Iranian targets since the start of Operation Epic Fury, reflecting the scale and intensity of the air campaign (RFEL).
2026-04-01
Trump: 'strongly considering pulling out of NATO'
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In an interview with The Telegraph, President Trump states he is 'strongly considering pulling out of NATO,' raising existential questions about the transatlantic alliance during wartime.
2026-04-01
Polls: consistent majorities oppose Iran military action
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After a full month of war, NBC News reports that consistent polling majorities continue to oppose US military action in Iran.
2026-04-02
Romania tests mine-countermeasure capabilities
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Romania's Ministry of National Defense (MApN) tests mine-countermeasure capabilities, signaling preparedness in the context of Hormuz mine threats (MApN).
2026-04-03
Trump threatens to destroy Iranian energy infrastructure
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President Trump threatens to destroy Iran's energy and transport infrastructure, signaling a potential escalation of targeting beyond military assets (CNBC).
2026-04-03
~28 civilian ships attacked in Gulf waters since Feb 28
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Approximately 28 civilian ships have been attacked by various means — drones, naval fire, missiles, and artillery — in Gulf waters since the start of the conflict (USNI News).
2026-04-03
Gulf desalination plants hit in expanding attacks
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Additional infrastructure sites in Gulf countries are attacked, including desalination plants critical to civilian water supply (NYT).
CNN confirms the US has hit over 12,500 targets, yet Iran still maintains significant missile launching capability, raising questions about the campaign's ability to achieve its stated objectives.