What Is Operation Epic Fury & Operation Lion's Roar? All About US-Israel's Joint Strike On Iran

New Delhi: 'Operation Epic Fury' is the code name for the ongoing strikes launched by the United States of America and Israel against Iran on Saturday. The attack comes just days after US President Donald Trump gave a 10-day ultimatum to Iran to finalise the nuclear deal.

President Donald Trump announced the operation against Iran, claiming his goal is to defend American people and eliminate imminent threats from the Iranian regime. The Pentagon officially called the operation ‘Operation Epic Fury’. Meanwhile, Israel called its part 'Operation Lion's Roar'.

In a video address, Trump said, “Bombs will be dropping everywhere…When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations.”

"We will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon."

Trump further said that he will not put up with Iran's actions any longer.

Background

The strikes follow months of planning amid tensions over Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missiles. Iran denies nuclear weapons pursuit, claiming civilian use.

This latest operation comes eight months after Israel and Iran engaged in twelve days of fighting in what Israel called ‘Operation Rising Lion’, during which the US also bombed Iranian nuclear infrastructure using B-2 bombers. Trump had declared at the time that Iran's nuclear program had been destroyed.

Earlier this month, the US and Iran renewed diplomatic negotiations to try to resolve the decades-long nuclear dispute. Trump had built up a vast U.S. military presence in the region to pressure Tehran into making nuclear concessions. However, those talks have now been overtaken by military action.

Iran's nuclear and missile programmes pose a security threat to Israel.

Expiry Of 10-Day Ultimatum

The attack comes after Trump's 10-day ultimatum to Iran to strike a nuclear deal expired. Earlier this month, Trump had stressed that the Middle Eastern country must agree on the nuclear deal, otherwise “bad things will happen”. Coaxing Tehran to join the US on a “path to peace”, Trump had said, “We have to make a meaningful deal with Iran…Good talks are being had. It’s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran…Iran must make a deal or bad things will happen."

US-Israel Launch Attack, Iran Retaliates

Hours after Trump stated that he was "not happy" with the ongoing negotiations with Iran, US and Israel launched joint airstrikes on Iran. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's residence was also attacked.

In retaliation, Iran launched strikes on six countries in the Middle East. It targeted US military linked locations in Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Later, drone attacks were also reported at airports and hotel buildings. Burj Khalifa, the world's largest building in Dubai, UAE, was evacuated after an explosion was reported near it.

Meanwhile, as many as 160 girls were killed after airstrikes on an elementary school in Iran's Minab city. Graphic visuals showed small girls lying in a pool of blood as the school suffered extensive damage following the strike. People were recovering children's bags from the rubbles. 

‘Iran Suffering For Not Making Deal': US

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said, “Overnight, on President Trump’s orders, the Department of War commenced OPERATION EPIC FURY — the most lethal, most complex, and most-precision aerial operation in history.”

He added, "The Iranian regime had their chance, yet refused to make a deal — and now they are suffering the consequences. For almost fifty years, Iran has targeted and killed Americans, always seeking the world’s most powerful weapons to further their radical cause. Last night, unlike any previous president, President Trump began dealing with this cancer.

We will not tolerate powerful missiles targeting the American people. Those missiles will be destroyed, along with Iran’s missile production. The Iranian navy will be destroyed. And, as President Trump has said his entire life, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."

He further claimed that the United States did not start this conflict, but it will finish it. He added, "If you kill or threaten Americans anywhere in the world — as Iran has — then we will hunt you down, and we will kill you.

Our warriors are the best in the world, and they are fully unleashed to achieve our objectives. May God’s providence protect them in this vital mission."

Also Read- 53 Girl Students Killed At Iran School As Massive Explosions Hit Minab | Israel-Iran War