The missiles started falling before most Americans had finished their Friday night plans. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a massive, coordinated military campaign against Iran, an operation the Pentagon calls Operation Epic Fury. By Saturday morning, the world woke up to a different Middle East: the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was dead, and Donald Trump was on Truth Social telling the Iranian people to "take over your government."
Critics are calling it an unprovoked act of war. Democrats in Congress are scrambling to pass a War Powers Resolution. But Trump isn't backing down. His defense is simple: Iran was going to attack first, and he wasn't about to let that happen. In related updates, we also covered: The Sabotage of the Sultans.
The logic of the preemptive strike
During an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday, Trump finally addressed the "why" behind the sudden escalation. He didn't just point to nuclear enrichment or proxy groups. He made it personal and immediate.
"We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first," Trump told reporters. He claimed the U.S. had intelligence suggesting an imminent Iranian strike against Israel and other Gulf allies. "They were going to attack if we didn't do it. I felt strongly about that." The New York Times has analyzed this critical issue in great detail.
This "get them before they get us" mentality isn't new for Trump, but the scale is. We aren't talking about a single drone strike on a general anymore. This is a full-scale attempt to dismantle Iran’s military infrastructure, from its navy to its missile silos.
I got him before he got me
There's a deeper layer to this than just regional stability. Trump recently acknowledged that Iran’s alleged plots to assassinate him during the 2024 campaign played a role in his decision-making. "I got him before he got me," he said in an interview with ABC News, referring to Khamenei.
It’s no secret that federal prosecutors have charged individuals in various murder-for-hire schemes linked to Tehran. While investigators haven't officially tied Iran to the high-profile 2024 assassination attempts, Trump has clearly made that connection in his own mind. For him, the "imminent threat" wasn't just a fleet of drones in the Persian Gulf—it was a hit squad with his name on the list.
What Operation Epic Fury is actually targeting
The administration has laid out four specific objectives for this campaign. They aren't just looking for a "win"; they're looking for a total reset of Iranian power.
- Missile Capabilities: The U.S. aims to "raze the missile industry to the ground." This includes long-range ballistic missiles that Trump claims could eventually reach the American homeland.
- The Iranian Navy: The goal is to "annihilate" their ability to harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Nuclear Ambitions: Despite strikes in June 2025 that the White House said "significantly degraded" the program, Trump claims Tehran was already rebuilding. He wants it gone for good this time.
- Sponsorship of Terror: By hitting the IRGC and its leadership, the U.S. hopes to cut the head off the snake for groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
The intelligence gap
Here is where things get messy. Not everyone is buying the "they were going to attack first" narrative. A 2025 federal assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) suggested Iran was actually years away from having a missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.
Congressional leaders, specifically the "Gang of Eight," say they weren't briefed on any specific, imminent threat before the bombs started dropping. This lack of transparency has created a firestorm on Capitol Hill. Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Thomas Massie are leading a rare bipartisan push to rein in the President’s war powers, arguing that no single person should have the authority to launch a regional war without a vote.
A gamble on regime change
The most striking part of this whole situation is Trump’s direct appeal to the Iranian public. He's told them this is their "only chance for generations" to overthrow the regime. It's a high-stakes bet. If the Iranian people rise up, Trump looks like a liberator. If they don't—or if they rally around the flag in the face of foreign intervention—the U.S. could find itself stuck in another "forever war" with no clear exit.
The Iranian response has already begun. Drones have hit the U.S. consulate in Dubai, and missiles have targeted oil refineries in Saudi Arabia. Six U.S. service members have already been confirmed killed in retaliatory strikes.
Trump says the operation could take "four weeks or less." History suggests Middle Eastern conflicts rarely follow a schedule.
If you’re traveling or have business interests in the region, the most immediate step is to monitor the State Department’s travel advisories. Embassies in Beirut, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are already closed. If you have family in the region, ensure they are registered with the STEP program to receive emergency updates as the situation evolves.
