Iran Launches Retaliatory Strikes as US and Israel Begin Operation Epic Fury
Coordinated missile strikes target nuclear infrastructure and military leadership as regional conflict escalates across the Middle East
Image: Matt Weston / AI
Sarah Connor
American and Israeli forces launched a massive, coordinated assault on Iran Saturday morning in a pre-emptive operation aimed at the nation’s nuclear weapons development.
The United States and Israel launched a massive, coordinated offensive against the Iranian state under the designations Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion. Pentagon and Israel Defense Forces assets targeted leadership hubs and military infrastructure across the country.
This offensive marks a definitive shift in the long-standing shadow war between these nations. The era of proxy skirmishes has ended, replaced by direct, large-scale kinetic engagement.
Iran responded immediately by launching retaliatory strikes against US and Israeli military bases scattered across the Middle East. Explosions rocked the skylines of Tehran, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and Qatar as the exchange of fire intensified.
British planes are currently in the sky over the region as the conflict escalates. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will chair an emergency COBRA meeting to address the crisis and ensure the safety of UK nationals.
The United Kingdom did not participate in the initial wave of strikes. Downing Street is currently prioritising the evacuation and protection of citizens rather than active combat participation.
US embassies in Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE advised all staff and citizens to shelter in place. The UK Foreign Office issued a parallel formal warning to British nationals residing in the UAE.
The Ministry of Defence deployed RAF Typhoons to Qatar to bolster regional security. Additional defence systems moved to Cyprus to provide a protective layer for British assets in the eastern Mediterranean.
Donald Trump characterised the mission as a necessary action against a regime attempting to rebuild its nuclear program. He stated that Iran continues to develop long-range missiles that threaten European allies and the American homeland.
The unilateral operation by Donald Trump would not deliver peace. It would instead unleash more bloodshed across the region.
Israeli authorities stated the operation was designed to thoroughly degrade the Iranian regime and remove existential threats. Officials claimed the first wave of strikes caused significant harm to military commanders on the ground.
Unconfirmed reports suggest Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei may have been killed in the initial missile strikes. In response, Iran's Supreme National Security Council promised a crushing retaliation to the US-Israeli attacks in the coming hours.
Iranian missiles struck the service center of the US Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain. Qatar's defence ministry confirmed it intercepted several Iranian missiles during the exchange to protect its airspace.
Donald Trump called for Iranian government forces to lay down their arms, offering immunity to members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and police who cease fighting. He described the strikes as the start of major combat operations aimed at fundamental change.
Sir Keir Starmer stated that Iran has backed more than 20 potentially lethal attacks on UK soil over the last year. He noted the regime poses a direct threat to dissidents and the Jewish community within the United Kingdom.
The Iranian people deserve the right to determine their own future. Iran must refrain from further strikes and cease the violence and repression against its own people.
The Prime Minister urged Iran to refrain from further strikes and cease the violence and repression against its own people. He asserted that the Iranian people deserve the right to determine their own future.
Sir Ed Davey criticised the military action, stating that the unilateral operation by Donald Trump would not deliver peace. He warned the strikes would instead unleash more bloodshed across the region.
Dame Emily Thornberry questioned the legality of the attacks and warned of total regional destabilisation. Conversely, Richard Tice of Reform UK praised the US and Israel for acting to protect the West by destroying the Iranian regime.
Nigel Farage called for the Prime Minister to reverse his stance on the use of British military bases. He urged the UK government to provide full military backing to the American operation.
Former UK national security advisers noted that the US and Israeli strikes were not conducted in a way that the UK would recognise as legal. Senior Labour MPs have urged the government to resist being drawn further into the Middle Eastern conflict.
The US and Israel appear to be pursuing a campaign aimed at regime change alongside the destruction of nuclear and missile sites. Iran continues to launch strikes across the region in what is forecast to be a multi-day operation.