U.S. Initiates New Military Operation Amid Escalating Conflict with Iran

The Pentagon has officially launched 'Operation Epic Fury,' a military initiative authorized by President Trump to counter Iranian threats to U.S. interests. The announcement follows a massive Iranian missile barrage directed at central Israel on March 15. While Israeli air defenses intercepted the majority of the projectiles over Tel Aviv, the escalating violence has now entered its third week with no signs of a ceasefire. The conflict has rapidly expanded across the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia reported strikes on Riyadh and its eastern province, while Qatari authorities ordered evacuations near the U.S. embassy in Doha due to nearby impacts. In a significant escalation of rhetoric, Iranian Security Council chief Ali Larijani claimed that Iranian forces have captured American soldiers, asserting that the U.S. is underreporting its true casualty count beyond the five or six deaths currently acknowledged by Washington. Furthermore, Iran has issued a stern warning to West Asian nations, including the UAE, demanding the expulsion of U.S. military bases from their territories. Iranian officials claimed that U.S. defense systems have failed to protect the region and cautioned that continued cooperation with Washington would lead to further instability. As the pace of drone and missile attacks remains persistent, regional defenses are being increasingly strained, prompting widespread security concerns throughout the Middle East.