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operation epic fury

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US-Israeli Strikes Kill Iran's Supreme Leader

The United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on Saturday, February 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and striking targets across the country in what the Pentagon designated "Operation Epic Fury." The unprecedented assault marks the most significant direct military confrontation between the US and Iran in decades, reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East overnight. Iran confirmed Khamenei's death and announced 40 days of national mourning. The 86-year-old cleric, who had led the Islamic Republic since 1989, was killed when strikes hit his compound in Tehran. Israeli military officials said several senior Iranian officials and military commanders were also killed in the operation. The Iranian Red Crescent reported at least 201 people killed across the country. The operation drew immediate retaliation from Iran, which launched missile and drone strikes against Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. At least eight people were killed in a missile strike in Beit Shemesh, a city near Jerusalem. US Central Command confirmed Sunday that three American service members were killed and five seriously wounded during the operation, underscoring the human cost on all sides of the escalation.

Iran strikesOperation Epic FuryKhamenei killed

News: Khamenei Confirmed Dead as Iran Retaliates Across

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been confirmed dead by Iranian state media following joint US-Israeli strikes dubbed Operation Epic Fury, triggering one of the most consequential geopolitical crises since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Islamic Republic has responded with waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel and at least six Gulf states hosting US military assets, killing and injuring civilians as far as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. As of Sunday, March 1, 2026, the conflict shows no signs of abating. Israel announced fresh strikes "in the heart of Tehran" while Iran vowed further retaliation. An interim Leadership Council has been hastily assembled in Tehran, with senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi named alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei to oversee the supreme leader's duties until a permanent successor is chosen. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also appointed a new commander in chief, Ahmad Vahidi, after its previous commander General Mohammad Pakpour was killed in the strikes. The scale of the conflict has sent shockwaves through global markets and aviation networks, with more than 1,400 flights cancelled across the Middle East on Sunday alone. Iran's internet has been down for over 24 hours, severely limiting the flow of information from inside the country. World leaders, from Beijing to London, are scrambling to assess the fallout as the prospect of a full-scale US-Iran war becomes increasingly real.

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News: Iran Oil Supply Disruption Risk Surges as Operation

The US-Israeli military strikes on Iran under Operation Epic Fury have introduced the most significant risk to global oil supply chains since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. With Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confirmed killed, Iran retaliating with missile strikes across the region — hitting targets as far as Dubai and Abu Dhabi — and the Strait of Hormuz suddenly in question, energy markets face a potential supply shock that could ripple through the global economy. Crude oil prices had already been creeping higher in the weeks before the strikes, with WTI crude rising from $62.53 on February 17 to $66.36 by February 23 — a 6.1% increase driven largely by escalation fears. Brent crude followed a similar trajectory, climbing from $69.77 to $71.90 over the same period. With trading markets closed over the weekend as the strikes unfolded, the full impact on oil prices won't be visible until markets reopen. But energy stocks have already been flashing warning signals: ExxonMobil surged 2.7% to $152.60, Chevron gained 1.4% to $186.75, and Occidental Petroleum jumped 3.2% to $53.08 — all trading at or near their 52-week highs. The critical question for investors and consumers alike isn't whether Iran's 1.9 million barrels per day of exports will be disrupted — it's whether the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil supply flows, remains open.

iran oil supplystrait of hormuzenergy stocks

News: U.S. and Israel Launch Joint Military Strikes on Iran

The United States and Israel launched a coordinated military operation against Iran on Friday, February 28, 2026, in what President Donald Trump described as the beginning of "major combat operations." The operation, codenamed "Epic Fury," represents the most significant direct U.S. military engagement with Iran in decades, targeting what officials described as the country's nuclear infrastructure and military capabilities. Iran responded swiftly, launching retaliatory strikes against multiple U.S. military installations in the region. Iranian officials confirmed they had struck a U.S. base in Bahrain and launched attacks across the broader Middle East, with reports of at least four U.S. military bases being targeted. Explosions were heard across the region as the situation escalated rapidly through the day. The strikes have sent shockwaves through global markets and diplomatic channels, with world leaders scrambling to respond. Flights across the Middle East have been cancelled and travel warnings issued as the conflict threatens to destabilize the entire region. Financial markets are bracing for significant volatility, with analysts warning of ramifications potentially exceeding previous geopolitical crises.

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News: US-Iran Nuclear Crisis Escalates to Military Strikes

What began as a high-stakes diplomatic standoff over Iran's nuclear programme has escalated into the most significant US military action in the Middle East since Operation Midnight Hammer last June. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure under the banner of "Operation Epic Fury," shattering the fragile diplomatic window that had opened during three rounds of Geneva talks. The trajectory from diplomacy to war unfolded with alarming speed. On February 21, President Trump publicly acknowledged considering limited military strikes while Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi prepared a counterproposal. By February 26, a third round of nuclear talks had opened in Geneva amid the largest US military buildup in the region since June 2025. Two days later, F-22 stealth fighters and cruise missiles struck Iranian nuclear facilities as Tehran retaliated with attacks on US bases in Bahrain and across the region. The escalation has sent shockwaves through financial markets. WTI crude oil has surged above $66 per barrel, defense stocks have rallied to near-record highs, and 10-year Treasury yields have fallen to 4.02% as investors seek safe-haven assets. Gold prices have broken above $5,200 per ounce. The full economic and geopolitical consequences of Operation Epic Fury are still unfolding, but the shift from diplomatic brinkmanship to open conflict marks a defining moment for markets, energy security, and the global order.

Iran military strikesOperation Epic FuryUS-Iran conflict