The Middle East plunged into a fresh crisis after the United States and Israel launched a coordinated military assault on Iran, targeting key military installations, missile production facilities, and sites near the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran. The coordinated US–Israel military strike on Iran marks one of the most significant escalations in Middle East tensions in recent years.
The US operation was officially named “Epic Fury,” while Israel’s parallel campaign was code-named “Roaring Lion.” The strikes represent a sharp escalation between Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran, raising concerns of a broader regional confrontation.
First Strike Reported Near Khamenei’s Office in Tehran
According to international agencies, the first major explosion occurred near Khamenei’s office in central Tehran. Iranian state media reported multiple blasts across the capital, with thick smoke rising from various districts.
An official later told Reuters that Ayatollah Khamenei had been moved to a secure location outside Tehran before the strike. There were no immediate confirmed reports of casualties or structural damage.
Following the attack, Israel activated its air defence systems amid fears of retaliatory missile or drone fire from Iran.
Donald Trump Announces “Major Combat Operations in Iran”
US President Donald Trump confirmed the military action in a video message posted to social media, declaring that the United States had initiated “major combat operations in Iran.”
Speaking from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump accused Tehran of continuing to develop nuclear weapons and long-range missile systems capable of striking American territory.
“We warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons. We sought repeatedly to make a deal. Iran rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions,” Trump said.
Acknowledging the potential human cost of the operation, he noted, “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war.”
*Airspace Closures Across Middle East as Sirens Sound*
The coordinated US–Israel strikes on Iran triggered immediate security measures across the Middle East, with multiple countries shutting down their airspace as a precaution against possible retaliation. Iraq’s Ministry of Transport announced the closure of Iraqi airspace shortly after the first explosions were reported in Tehran. The United Arab Emirates followed suit, suspending air traffic amid rising regional uncertainty.
In Israel, the Israel Airports Authority confirmed that the country’s airspace was fully closed, with incoming flights diverted and passengers moved to designated safe areas. Sirens were also reported in Jordan, signaling heightened alert levels as governments prepared for potential missile or drone strikes.
Reports from international agencies indicated that explosions were heard beyond Iran’s borders, including in Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Kuwait, deepening concerns of regional spillover. Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels also announced plans to resume attacks on shipping in the Red Sea corridor, raising fresh concerns over maritime security and global trade routes.
Massive US Military Build-Up in the Gulf
The strikes followed weeks of heightened military mobilisation by the United States in the Middle East.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three guided-missile destroyers were deployed to the region in late January. Shortly afterward, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, along with four destroyers, moved from the Caribbean toward the Mediterranean.
These deployments added more than 10,000 US troops to the region, supplementing forces already stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Hundreds of fighter jets and support aircraft were also positioned to support potential extended combat operations.
Middle East on Edge Amid Uncertain Strategic Outcome
Iran warned of a “crushing response” and subsequently launched retaliatory missile attacks, signaling that the confrontation may not remain limited. With regional airspace closures, heightened military alerts, and major US naval assets positioned across the Mediterranean and the Gulf, the security environment remains volatile.
While Washington has presented the operation as a response to Iran’s alleged nuclear and missile programs, the broader strategic objective of the strikes has not been clearly defined. It remains uncertain whether the action is designed as a calibrated deterrent measure, a limited punitive strike, or the initial phase of a sustained military campaign.
