All articles tagged with #epic fury
The piece memorializes 19 U.S. service members killed since the Iran conflict began, detailing their ages, roles, and bases, and sharing family tributes as they describe the personal cost of the war amid drone strikes in Kuwait, a KC-135 crash, and other attacks tied to Operation Epic Fury, while noting 420 wounded and President Trump’s remarks honoring the fallen.
An American F-15 was shot down over Iran during Operation Epic Fury, and a pilot said he observed Iranian drones flying in a coordinated jellyfish-like formation, potentially contributing to the downing; the incident’s cause is under investigation, with analysts warning such drone swarms could signal a more capable threat.
Trump at the G7 signaled a softer view on Iran's missiles, saying missiles aren’t the problem and suggesting Gulf states could have them too, a contrast to the Epic Fury framing that degrading Iran's missile capabilities was a central objective. The administration is also pursuing discussions on Iran's enrichment, with unresolved questions about whether any enrichment will be allowed.
Iranian missiles struck the Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, severely damaging the facility which was not in use at the time; no injuries were reported, and the ongoing Epic Fury air campaign continued from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, with Al Udeid’s CAOC operating in a reduced or parallel role. The incident underscores the need to disperse and harden critical command centers for future operations.
The Air Force plans to buy back a small number of unused MQ-9A Block 5 Reapers from General Atomics to backfill combat losses in the Middle East, but only a handful are available worldwide. With the MQ-9A fleet shrinking to about 135–165 aircraft, the service is pursuing the long-term MQ-9 Next (not expected for years) while cannibalizing Predator parts and reusing decommissioned drones to keep operations running.
CSIS warns that Operation Epic Fury against Iran drained major U.S. munitions categories (TLAMs, THAAD, Patriot, SM-3/SM-6, JASSMs, PrSM), with replenishment taking years due to production limits and foreign sales; pre-war inventories were sizable but heavily drawn down, prompting pauses in arms shipments to Taiwan and raising concerns about readiness for potential conflicts with China, North Korea, and beyond as the Defense Department workflows and budgets aim to restore stocks by the late 2020s.
Adm. Brad Cooper told a Senate panel that Iran remains capable of disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and can use that leverage in peace talks, even as U.S. forces say Iran’s military has been degraded. Details on missiles and stockpiles are disputed, and while Project Freedom could resume if ordered, the war—codenamed Epic Fury—has cost about $29 billion, potentially forcing funding trade-offs in training and force generation.
Rubio says the United States has achieved the objectives of its military campaign against Iran, with Operation Epic Fury concluded, and describes the subsequent Strait of Hormuz effort (Project Freedom) as smaller and defensive, to be used only if attacked. He urged a diplomatic path to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, notes ongoing talks with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and cites civilian sailor deaths in the Strait amid regional tensions, including UAE reports of missiles/drones strikes and a fragile ceasefire.
Pentagon Chief Hegseth says Operation Project Freedom is separate from Epic Fury and temporary; the U.S. emphasizes it can safeguard shipping through the Strait of Hormuz without entering Iranian airspace, CENTCOM and partners are coordinating with hundreds of ships, Iran is blamed as the aggressor and would face overwhelming firepower if it attacks shipping, and there are discussions about handing Strait duties to the world.
John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight mocks the Iran conflict coverage and the administration’s rhetoric, notably ridiculing the moniker 'Epic Fury,' critiquing Trump’s victory claims while the Pentagon seeks more funding, and highlighting real-world reactions (including a gas‑station voter calling Trump a “worthless pile of shit”) to illustrate how media spin colors public perception of the Middle East crisis.
Two long-range Iranian missiles were launched toward Diego Garcia, suggesting Tehran’s arsenal may exceed the 2,000-km range it publicly claimed, though one reportedly failed and the other was intercepted; IDF warned the missiles could reach European capitals, prompting UK condemnation and warnings from analysts that Iran’s missile program is expanding beyond the Middle East and could threaten Europe, reinforcing the Epic Fury posture.
Iran launches missiles at Diego Garcia as U.S.-led forces press a broad offensive under Operation Epic Fury (and allied Roaring Lion), reporting thousands of Iranian targets hit and disturbances around the Strait of Hormuz, with Natanz reported damaged earlier in the conflict.
Handala, an Iran-linked group, claimed a cyberattack on Stryker that allegedly wiped over 200,000 devices across 79 countries, illustrating a widening cyber battlefield in the Iran war. The incident sits within a broader campaign by IRGC-backed groups (CyberAv3ngers, APT33, APT55) targeting US infrastructure, plus a loose hacktivist coalition—Cyber Islamic Resistance—coordinating actions via Telegram. The United States and Israel are reported to be conducting cyber operations as part of Operation Epic Fury, with actors employing AI tools to disrupt energy, telecoms, and government networks.
Six U.S. Air Force airmen died when a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, including Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; the cause is under investigation and authorities said it was not due to friendly fire.
The Bulwark’s Morning Shots critique of Donald Trump’s Iran war naming—’Epic Fury’—argues the plan lacks clear goals, risks escalation, and imposes heavy costs, all wrapped in Trump’s self-aggrandizing theatrics. The piece contrasts Trump’s swagger (including his obsession with Florsheim shoes for aides and a two-minute clap by Republican leaders) with skeptical takes from Rogan and younger voters, and threads in related notes on AI-assisted targeting, civilian harm, and odd political-financial curiosities, leaving readers to wonder whether Epic Fury will become an epic disaster or a hollow pseudo-victory.