The Middle East has entered a state of total war following a massive, coordinated military offensive launched by the US and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Casualties mount
Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported Tuesday morning that joint US-Israeli strikes targeted residential districts in the city of Hamadan, leaving five civilians dead and 25 others wounded.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a scathing statement accusing the coalition of “deliberately targeting civilian and medical infrastructure to paralyze public life.”
Simultaneously, the Iranian military confirmed the deaths of 13 soldiers following an Israeli strike on a strategic base in the southern province of Kerman.
The Scope of ‘Operation Epic Fury’
US President Donald Trump announced the commencement of “major combat operations” via a video statement from the White House.
Describing the campaign as “massive and ongoing,” Trump stated the objectives are to dismantle Iran’s missile and military capabilities, prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and eliminate “imminent threats” from the regime.
The Pentagon has officially designated the American component of the offensive as “Operation Epic Fury”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed these sentiments, framing the attack as a necessity to “remove the existential threat” posed by Iran.
Netanyahu directly addressed the Iranian people, urging them to seize the moment to “overthrow the regime.”
Iran’s retaliation
Tehran has responded by launching waves of ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel and several US bases in the Gulf.
Iran officially declared the start of “Operation True Promise IV” as direct retaliation, with explosions reported in major Iranian hubs including Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, and Kermanshah.
This follows reports of 10 Israeli missiles striking sites in the Pardis and Damavand region
Diplomatic collapse
This offensive marks the second major confrontation in less than a year, following the 12-day conflict in June 2025.
The current escalation comes just hours after President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of Omani-mediated nuclear negotiations, signaling a total collapse of the diplomatic track.
