Norms Impact
US calls strikes on Iran ‘Operation Epic Fury’
A U.S.-assisted pre-emptive strike, branded by the Pentagon, entrenches a model of rapid war-making that can sideline congressional war powers and normalize executive-first escalation.
Feb 28, 2026
Sources
Summary
The Pentagon said the United States military named its strikes on Iran “Operation Epic Fury,” as Israel, with U.S. help, launched a pre-emptive strike near Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s offices in Tehran. The U.S. military’s direct participation in a pre-emptive attack signals an executive-driven escalation pathway that can bypass public, congressional, and procedural scrutiny. The practical consequence is a widened precedent for rapid overseas force commitments with immediate regional spillover, including airspace closures, emergency protocols, and communications disruptions.
Reality Check
Normalizing U.S. participation in pre-emptive strikes expands a precedent where life-and-death national decisions move faster than our constitutional checks. When the executive can operationalize and brand overseas attacks without visible constraint, congressional war powers and public accountability become afterthoughts rather than guardrails. Over time, this shifts the center of gravity toward unilateral force commitments that the country must absorb—strategically, financially, and democratically—after the fact.
Detail
<p>On Saturday, the Pentagon said the United States military has named its strikes on Iran “Operation Epic Fury.” The strikes occurred as Israel, with the help of the United States, launched what was described as a pre-emptive military strike against Iran. The strike was reported to have taken place near the offices of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran.</p><p>Witnesses in Tehran reported hearing the first blast near Khamenei’s office, and Iranian state television later reported an explosion without giving a cause. Explosions were reported across Tehran as warnings to pilots were issued.</p><p>In Israel, sirens sounded as the country closed its airspace, and the Israeli military said it issued a proactive alert for the possibility of missile launches toward Israel. Several hospitals in Israel initiated emergency protocols, including moving patients and surgeries to underground facilities. Iran shut down its airspace, and mobile phone services were cut.</p>