In a video statement released today, US President Trump confirmed that their military has joined Israel in launching "major combat operations" across Iran. The mission, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury" by the US Department of War, follows weeks of failed diplomatic efforts in Geneva and a sustained military buildup in the Persian Gulf.
Explosions have been reported in the Iranian capital of Tehran, as well as several other major cities including Qom, Isfahan, and Karaj. Reports from the ground indicate that strikes have targeted Iranian missile facilities, Revolutionary Guard headquarters, and areas near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
President Trump stated that the primary objective of the operation is to "annihilate" Iran's missile industry and ensure the regime never obtains a nuclear weapon. During his address, he also spoke directly to the Iranian people, urging them to "take over your government" and suggesting that the "hour of freedom" was at hand.
The Iranian government has responded with a series of retaliatory measures. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly launched a barrage of missiles toward Israel and targeted US naval assets in Bahrain. Multiple countries in the region, including Iraq, Jordan, and Israel, have closed their airspace as the conflict threatens to spread.
The situation remains highly volatile. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has upgraded travel warnings for the region, and New Zealanders currently in the Middle East are being advised to shelter in place and register their details on SafeTravel.
Global markets have already begun to react to the news, with oil prices expected to see sharp increases. International leaders have called for restraint, though both the US and Israeli administrations have indicated that these strikes are part of a broader campaign to remove what they describe as an "existential threat."
