The United States, under President Trump, launched a massive military operation codenamed "Epic Fury" against Iran following a period of carefully orchestrated deception. Hours before the devastating attack, Trump appeared to disengage from White House duties, flying to Texas to deliver a speech promoting "American energy dominance" and expressing a desire for peaceful resolution over Iran's nuclear ambitions. He then visited a Whataburger and proceeded to Mar-a-Lago, Florida, seemingly set for a fundraising weekend. This elaborate ploy was designed to lull the Iranian regime into a false sense of security, as senior military officials, including War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, had already gathered at Mar-a-Lago to finalize the assault.

Trump gave the green light for Operation Epic Fury to commence during daylight hours in Tehran, strategically timed for Saturday morning, the first day of the Iranian week, when regime leaders would have emerged from their bunkers. The primary targets included Iranian leaders, missile forces, the Iranian navy, command and control nodes, Revolutionary Guard and naval bases, and nuclear sites. The overarching goals were to hit the Iranian leadership, destroy Tehran's ballistic missile capability, and target its nuclear program. Experts, such as Retired Gen. Jack Keane, emphasized that the tactical surprise was crucial for targeting leaders before engaging air defense systems. US forces also moved to neutralize naval infrastructure to prevent retaliatory suicide attacks or mining of the Strait of Hormuz.

Shortly after dawn, smoke began billowing over Tehran, and Trump announced US combat operations on his Truth Social platform, citing the need to "eliminating imminent threats." The Israeli military confirmed joint strikes, targeting multiple sites where senior Iranian officials had gathered in Tehran and missile launchers in the west of the country. Initial, unconfirmed reports from Israeli television indicated that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian had been targeted, with some Israeli officials suggesting several senior Iranian officials were killed. Amidst the "fog of war," reports indicated Khamenei might have been transferred to a secure location. The Red Crescent Society reported that approximately 20 of Iran's 31 provinces were affected by the strikes, and a military base housing a pro-Iran group in southern Iraq also suffered a strike, killing at least two people.

The operation, expected to last days or even weeks, aimed to methodically dismantle the infrastructure sustaining the Iranian regime, including that of the Revolutionary Guard and police, potentially involving cyber attacks alongside conventional bombings. The immediate danger was Iran's vast stockpile of missiles, which were targeted in the initial US and Israeli strikes, facilitated by surveillance drones. Israel released video evidence of the destruction of Iranian ballistic missile launching positions. In response, air raid sirens blared across Tel Aviv, and Israelis sought bomb shelters as dozens of retaliatory Iranian missiles were launched, most of which were intercepted by Israeli air defenses. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have targeted the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, with one missile striking nearby. Qatar and Kuwait also engaged incoming strikes, and explosions were reported across the Gulf region, including in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, and Manama. Jordan intercepted two ballistic missiles, and explosions were heard near the US consulate in Erbil, Iraq.

As Americans awoke, President Trump delivered an eight-minute speech from Mar-a-Lago, confirming "major combat operations" and warning of potential US casualties. He offered immunity to Revolutionary Guard members who would lay down their weapons, stating the alternative was "certain death." Trump emphasized the noble mission for the future, acknowledging the risk to American personnel.

The military action sparked fierce domestic criticism in the United States, largely due to Trump's perceived failure to build a public case for striking Iran and the apparent last-minute alert to Congress's "gang of eight." Critics drew parallels to the 2003 Iraq War, noting the lack of a clear, sustained public justification. Democratic senators, including Tim Kaine, Chuck Schumer, and Mark Warner, condemned the strikes, arguing they breached the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which mandates congressional consultation and approval for military engagements. Kaine accused the administration of trying to "rush the initiation of an illegal war" before a scheduled Senate vote. David Janovsky of the Project on Government Oversight reiterated that Congress holds the sole authority to declare war, calling Trump's action a "flagrant abuse of power." Senator Ruben Gallego also labeled the action "illegal," expressing concern for working-class Americans potentially dying in an unjustified war. Even within Trump's own party, maverick Republican Thomas Massie echoed concerns, while right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson called the actions "disgusting and evil," reflecting an "America First" sentiment against open-ended military entanglements. Conversely, staunch Trump loyalist Senator Lindsey Graham praised the strikes as a historical turning point, foreseeing "the end of the largest state sponsor of terrorism."

For the Iranian diaspora, the news of the US-led strikes elicited complex emotions, a mixture of fear and cautious optimism. Raymond Iryami, who left Iran at age 10, expressed a desire to return to a free Iran but also feared potential deaths in vain. Sean Sabeti, who left before the 1979 revolution, saw the conflict as a "reason for hope" for freedom and liberty after 47 years. Vahid Danesh, with relatives in Tehran, viewed it not as a war but a "liberation operation," hoping for meaningful change and for Iranians to "finally breathe the air of a country that belongs to them again." Rebecca Sassouni, an American-born Persian Jew, expressed "gratitude and awe" for the US and Israeli efforts to secure freedom for the Iranian people, recalling past experiences of oppression. Jacqueline Harounian hoped for a "quick end to the regime, and not a protracted war," envisioning a "more stable set of leaders." Many Iranians on Long Island were concerned to speak on record due to fears for loved ones and surveillance in Iran, highlighting the anxieties faced by the community.

Meanwhile, in Manchester, over a thousand people of mostly Iranian heritage gathered in St Peter's Square for a rally supporting the US and Israeli attacks. This event, a regular occurrence since a January uprising was brutally suppressed, swelled significantly after the confirmed strikes. Attendees chanted against the Islamic Republic, demanding democracy, and waved Iranian, US, and Israeli flags. Many carried posters of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whom they believe to be the rightful leader. The crowd erupted in applause and cheering upon unconfirmed reports from Israel of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death. Personal stories from the rally underscored the brutality of the Iranian regime: Metra Mehran, who fled in 1979, called the rulers "horrible, vicious people"; Ashkan, her son, spoke of fighting for "brothers and sisters who have perished"; Aaron Xhah recounted the execution of four uncles for refusing to convert; Kimia, a business analyst, described the oppression of women, including forced hijabs; and Cyrus Taqizade, a political activist and rally organizer, accused the regime of "mass murder" and "torture." Many expressed gratitude to President Trump, viewing the strikes as a step towards freedom and a swift end to decades of tyranny, hoping to someday return to a democratic homeland.