The United States and Israel have launched a joint military campaign against Iran dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” after President Donald Trump said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed. Trump said the operation aims to degrade Iran’s missile forces, strike nuclear-related facilities, and curb Iran-backed militant groups, while U.S. and allied officials warned the situation could still widen across the region.
Operation “Epic Fury,” a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, was described by The Daily Wire as underway after President Donald Trump said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed.
Stated objectives and early battlefield claims
In the Daily Wire account, Trump said the campaign was launched because Iran “refused to end” hostilities against the United States and its allies and would not dismantle what he described as a dangerous “nuclear missile program.” The same article said the operation’s goals include crippling Iran’s missile industry, targeting the Iranian navy, striking Iranian nuclear facilities, and limiting the ability of Iran-backed proxies to attack U.S. forces or destabilize the region.
The Daily Wire also said that more than 24 hours into the operation, Iran’s missile and drone response appeared smaller than earlier attacks over the past two years, and that the U.S. and Israel had achieved “total supremacy of the skies” over Iran.
Other major outlets have reported broader regional repercussions. The Washington Post reported the operation targeted hundreds of sites and said Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while noting the Pentagon has released limited detail and that civilian-casualty assessments were still developing.
Terrorism and proxy activity
The Daily Wire piece said Iran has for decades trained, armed and funded militant proxies in the Middle East, and that such groups have attacked Americans and threatened global shipping. It also referenced U.S. government claims that Iran provided sanctuary to al Qaeda figures after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The article further cited attempted plots against Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. U.S. authorities have previously said Iran was behind threats against U.S. officials after the 2020 killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, though Iranian officials have repeatedly denied directing assassination attempts.
Statements attributed to Trump and Netanyahu
The Daily Wire reported that after what it described as formal confirmation of Khamenei’s death, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country,” and described the killing as justice for Iranians and for Americans harmed by the regime.
It also reported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Iranians to act, saying: “This is an opportunity, do something. Do not sit with your arms crossed,” and adding: “You have to complete this work and you have to bring down and eradicate this regime.”
Protest-casualty claims and calls for defection
The Daily Wire article claimed that “weeks ago” Iran’s government killed “over 32,000” protesters, and said this occurred despite Trump issuing a warning to Tehran not to kill demonstrators.
Public casualty estimates for Iran’s recent unrest have varied widely, and independent verification has been difficult amid restrictions and limited access. In one widely cited comparison of estimates, Forbes reported that Trump publicly used the figure of about 32,000 deaths without providing a source, while a U.S.-based rights group reported a lower confirmed tally with additional deaths under review, and Iran’s government published a significantly smaller official figure.
The Daily Wire also said Trump offered immunity for Iranian security-force members who defect and lay down their arms, and suggested a transition could come from a coalition of internal factions, including defectors from the police, the regular army, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Russia, China and regional positioning
According to the Daily Wire, China and Russia condemned the strikes but have not provided direct support to Iran, and it asserted that Muslim-majority countries hosting U.S. forces have condemned Iranian aggression and aligned with Washington.
Independent reporting on the diplomatic response has described sharp divisions at the United Nations and across the region, with calls for de-escalation alongside competing claims about the legality and aims of the campaign.
