Operation Epic Fury Enters Second Week with Heavier U.S. Bombing and IRGC Threats

The conflict between the United States and Iran escalated further over the last 24 hours as 'Operation Epic Fury' entered its second week. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine announced the 'heaviest bombing yet,' stating that U.S. forces have now struck over 15,000 targets including missile, naval, and proxy capabilities. President Trump issued a public warning to Tehran to 'watch what happens' as the aerial and naval campaign intensifies. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a chilling ultimatum to the Trump administration and Israel. The IRGC warned that any strikes targeting Iranian ports or energy infrastructure would lead to retaliatory attacks on regional oil and gas sites, potentially causing widespread blackouts and economic collapse. This follows earlier vows of vengeance from Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, though no new statements were issued by him in the last day. On the ground, the human and economic costs of the war continue to mount. The U.S. military reported four additional deaths and the loss of a fourth aircraft in western Iraq, though civilian casualty counts remain unverified. Global energy markets remain under severe pressure, with oil prices holding steady above $100 per barrel amidst persistent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Regional allies, including Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, remain on high alert following recent drone interceptions.