US General Describes Start of Epic Fury Battle with Iran

The United States has launched Operation Epic Fury with Israel, targeting Irans military capabilities after months of preparation. The joint effort began with coordinated air, sea, and cyber strikes aimed at disrupting Iran's ability to conduct offensive operations across multiple domains.

A senior US military officer has shared an in-depth account of the launch of Operation Epic Fury, a significant military campaign carried out by the United States in collaboration with Israel. The operation commenced after a period of US military buildup in the Middle East and stalled nuclear negotiations, with the aim of severely weakening Iran's military capabilities.

Launch and Early Planning

Operation Epic Fury officially began on Saturday, following extensive preparations. According to statements from the US and Israeli officials, the primary objective of the operation was to reduce Iran’s ability to conduct offensive military operations. One of the early casualties was Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of combat.

During a Pentagon briefing, General Dan Caine, US Air Force General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the operation as the result of months, and in some cases years, of meticulous planning. He emphasized that the joint effort between the US and Israel was designed to disrupt, degrade, deny, and ultimately destroy Iran's ability to sustain combat operations across various warfare domains, including land, air, sea, and cyber operations.

Preparations and Resources

The operation involved a large-scale deployment of personnel and military assets. These included:

• Thousands of US service members from all military branches positioned in and around the Middle East.
• Hundreds of advanced fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
• Dozens of aerial refueling tankers.
• The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike groups, along with their embarked air wings.
• Extensive logistics networks for munitions, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support.

General Caine noted that personnel were systematically repositioned, with non-essential staff reduced at certain bases to minimize risk once combat operations began. He also highlighted that the logistical support provided by military planners was vital for the success of the operation.

Approval and Operational Security

The operation received formal approval from President Donald Trump at 3:38 PM on the Friday preceding the launch. The message from the president was brief, stating: "Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck!" Following this, all elements of the joint force completed their final preparations. These included testing air defense systems, rehearsing strike packages for pilots, loading weapons, and moving carrier strike groups into position.

Operational security was prioritized to maintain the element of surprise. All units and personnel were instructed to keep information under strict control until the operation was officially initiated.

Execution of Operations

The first wave of operations began with non-kinetic actions in cyber and space domains, targeting Iran's communications, surveillance, and response systems. The first major kinetic strikes started at 9:45 AM local Tehran time, involving the following key actions:

• Deployment of over 100 aircraft, including fighter jets, bombers, electronic warfare planes, early warning and control aircraft, tankers, and unmanned aerial systems.
• B-2 bombers carrying out 40-hour sorties from the continental US, targeting underground Iranian facilities with precision-guided munitions.
• Israeli aircraft carrying out hundreds of sorties targeting multiple Iranian sites.
• US Navy warships launching Tomahawk cruise missiles.
• Precision standoff weapons launched from land-based platforms to neutralize hundreds of pre-determined targets.

Impact and Results

General Caine reported that within the first 24 hours of the operation, over 1,000 targets were engaged across all warfare domains. Initial targets included command and control infrastructure, naval forces, ballistic missile sites, and intelligence facilities. The combination of kinetic and non-kinetic operations successfully disrupted Iran’s communications and sensor networks, enabling US forces to achieve local air superiority.

Over the next two days, hundreds of missions were carried out using tens of thousands of munitions. Integrated air defense systems, including Patriot and THAAD batteries as well as US Navy destroyers, intercepted hundreds of incoming missiles and neutralized hostile drones. However, the operation was not without casualties, as three US F-15 fighter jets were lost due to friendly fire and four US service members were killed during operations.

Despite these setbacks, General Caine underscored that the US military maintained a sustained and coordinated offensive while implementing defensive measures. The operation continues, with additional engagements and further casualties anticipated.

Conclusion

Operation Epic Fury represents a highly coordinated military effort involving extensive planning, diverse assets, and synchronized operations across multiple warfare domains. The early phase of the operation focused on degrading Iran’s military capabilities while securing regional advantages for US and allied forces. Combat operations continue as the US and Israeli forces persist in both offensive and defensive actions.

Sources:

• US General Describes Start of Epic Fury Battle with Iran - CNN
• US General Describes Start of Epic Fury Battle with Iran - BBC
• US General Describes Start of Epic Fury Battle with Iran - Reuters
• Top US general details the opening days of America's Epic Fury fight with Iran