Shortly after 9 a.m. local time, U.S. and Israeli forces carried out a coordinated strike the Pentagon called Operation Epic Fury. Both governments said the targets were facilities tied to Iranian military capabilities.
President Donald Trump followed the operation with a direct message on Truth Social aimed at the Iranian people. He urged Iranians to “seize control” of their government once the military action concluded, framing the strikes as a necessary response to what he described as an “imminent threat” from the Iranian regime and as a way to open space for a different political future.
As the operation unfolded, the president advised civilians to shelter in place. He also acknowledged the likelihood of U.S. casualties, calling the mission a “noble undertaking” designed to improve long-term security.
What the operation and the president’s message conveyed
Officials presented the strikes as a targeted effort to blunt Iran’s strike capabilities while also applying political pressure. In public statements the Pentagon emphasized force protection and limited, specific targeting goals. The White House stressed that the action aimed to degrade Iran’s missile and naval infrastructure and to curb Tehran’s regional reach.
At the same time, the president’s post sought to turn military pressure into political leverage inside Iran. He warned civilians to remain indoors, quoting “bombs will be dropping everywhere,” urged Iranians to assume governance roles “when we are finished,” and offered immunity to members of Iranian armed organizations who surrender. The administration described the campaign as pairing kinetic action with information operations intended to influence Iranian domestic dynamics.
Security goals and admission of risk
Administratively, the objectives were twofold: erode Iran’s missile-handling and naval capabilities and create a political opening within the country. The public messaging mixed coercion with inducements — military force accompanied by promises of safety for defectors.
Officials were explicit that civilians could be harmed and urged protective measures for noncombatants. That candor amounts to an operational acceptance that the campaign could produce collateral disruption as a component of its strategy.
The president tied the strikes to U.S. national security, saying they were meant to “eliminate imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
