Overview
- Vance told Fox News the mission is to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon, saying the U.S. has “much greater capacity” to hit nuclear and missile targets and that the campaign could continue longer if needed.
- President Trump outlined four objectives for Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, “annihilate” its navy, prevent a nuclear weapon, and cut off the regime’s arming and direction of proxy groups.
- U.S. Central Command reported six American service members killed in action since the strikes began, and senior officials acknowledged additional casualties are possible.
- Trump confirmed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with other senior Iranian figures also reported killed in the joint U.S.–Israeli strikes.
- The New York Times, confirmed by CBS News, reported Vance urged a “go big and go fast” plan in internal meetings, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “the hardest hits are yet to come” and the U.S. urged Americans in multiple Middle East countries to depart.