Operation Epic Fury Enters Fourth Week With Natanz Attack, Diego Garcia Missile Strike, and Growing Global Energy Crisis
The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran crossed a dramatic new threshold on Saturday as warplanes struck Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility — one of the most sensitive targets in the entire conflict — while President Trump signaled he is considering “winding down” Operation Epic Fury.
Day 22 of the war brought a dizzying series of developments: Iran fired ballistic missiles at the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon announced it has now struck over 8,000 Iranian targets, and the fate of Iran’s new Supreme Leader remains shrouded in mystery.
Natanz Nuclear Facility Hit in Unprecedented Strike
In what may prove to be the most consequential single attack of Operation Epic Fury, US and Israeli forces targeted Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility on Saturday. Iranian state media confirmed the strike but insisted there was “no leakage of radioactive materials” and no danger to nearby residents.
Natanz has long been at the heart of international concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The underground facility, buried deep beneath reinforced concrete, has been the site of Iran’s most advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges. The strike signals a clear escalation in the war’s objectives — moving beyond Iran’s conventional military capabilities to directly targeting its nuclear infrastructure.
The attack comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared earlier this week that Iran “can no longer enrich uranium,” though that claim has not been independently verified. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been unable to conduct in-field verification of Iran’s enrichment levels or stockpile size since the war began. Iran’s current nuclear status as of March 2026 remains unknown.
Iran Fires Missiles at Diego Garcia — 2,500 Miles From Tehran
In a stunning display of Iran’s remaining long-range capabilities, Tehran launched ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, the remote US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean. The British Ministry of Defence confirmed the attack, though the missile strike was unsuccessful — one missile reportedly failed in flight, and a US warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the other.
The attack on Diego Garcia is significant for several reasons. Located roughly 2,500 miles from Tehran in the Chagos Islands, the base has been a critical staging post for US heavy bomber operations throughout the conflict. The fact that Iran attempted to strike it suggests missile capabilities that exceed what Western intelligence had previously assessed.
“Iran’s reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies,” a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said. “RAF jets and other UK military assets are continuing to defend our people and personnel in the region.”
Pentagon: 8,000 Targets Hit, Iran’s Hormuz Threat ‘Degraded’
Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of US Central Command, delivered a significant operational update on Saturday, announcing that American forces have struck 8,000 Iranian targets and destroyed 130 Iranian naval vessels since the war began on February 28.
In a video posted to social media, Cooper revealed that the US dropped multiple 5,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on an underground coastal facility used to store anti-ship cruise missiles, mobile missile launchers, and other equipment threatening international shipping.
“We not only took out the facility but also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements,” Cooper said. “Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz is degraded as a result, and we will not stop pursuing these targets.”
Cooper added that the US has built “the most extensive air defense umbrella in the world over the Middle East right now,” and assessed that “Iran’s combat capability is on the steady decline.”
The Pentagon says Iranian missile and drone attacks are now down 90% from the early days of the war. The US military has shifted to using Apache helicopters and A-10 Warthog ground-attack aircraft — a clear sign that commanders believe the air defense threat has been substantially reduced.
Trump’s Mixed Signals: ‘Winding Down’ or Doubling Down?
President Trump injected fresh confusion into the strategic picture on Friday when he posted on Truth Social that his administration was considering “winding down” military operations. Hours earlier, however, he told reporters on the White House lawn that he had no interest in a ceasefire because the US was “obliterating the other side.”
The contradictory statements reflect what analysts describe as a president trapped by a war that has expanded beyond his original expectations. Trump launched Operation Epic Fury promising a “short excursion,” but three weeks later the conflict shows no signs of a clean resolution.
“Trump has built himself a box called the Iran war, and he can’t figure out how to get out of it,” said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator who served under both Republican and Democratic presidents. “That’s his biggest source of frustration.”
The White House pushed back on that characterization, with an official noting that many of Iran’s top leaders have been eliminated, most of its navy has been sunk, and its ballistic missile arsenal has been largely destroyed. “This has been an undisputed military success,” the official said.
Meanwhile, 2,200 additional Marines are deploying to the Middle East — hardly the posture of a military preparing to wind down.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Missing, Intelligence Minister Killed
Adding to the sense of chaos within Iran’s leadership, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei — son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a strike on the first day of the war — failed to appear publicly for the Iranian New Year (Nowruz) on Friday.
For three decades, Iran’s supreme leaders have traditionally addressed the nation on Nowruz. Instead, state news agency Tasnim released only a written statement and a photograph purportedly of the new leader. US intelligence officials told CBS News they are actively working to determine whether the photo was AI-generated.
Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to have been injured in the same strike that killed his father. His continued absence from public view raises serious questions about Iran’s command structure and decision-making capacity during the war.
Iran also confirmed the death of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, along with his wife and daughter, in a targeted strike. His funeral procession took place in Tehran on Friday, March 20.
Global Energy Crisis Deepens
The economic fallout from the war continues to worsen. Over 3,000 vessels are now stranded in the Middle East, according to the International Maritime Organization, with the Persian Gulf effectively becoming a parking lot for ships unable to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
In a major policy reversal, the Trump administration announced it is temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian oil currently loaded on ships at sea, adding an estimated 140 million barrels to the global market. The sanctions waiver runs until April 19, 2026. The administration had already lifted some sanctions on Russian crude to ease supply pressure.
The International Energy Agency has taken the extraordinary step of urging people to work from home and avoid air travel as part of emergency measures to reduce fuel consumption.
On Saturday, 22 countries issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels and energy infrastructure, calling on Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “The effects of Iran’s actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable,” the nations said.
Allies Refuse to Help, NATO Rift Widens
Trump’s frustration boiled over this week when NATO allies refused his request to deploy their navies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. The president called fellow NATO members “cowards” for declining to assist — a diplomatic insult that analysts say reflects the broader damage Trump has done to traditional US alliances since returning to office.
The refusal is notable because it leaves the United States and Israel largely isolated in the conflict. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab states have condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, but none have joined the military operation. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President el-Sissi have instead focused on diplomatic solidarity visits across Gulf states.
Israel has also become a source of friction, with disputes emerging over the Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field. Trump insisted he had no advance knowledge of the attack, while Israeli officials said it had been coordinated with Washington.
The Human Cost
As the war enters its fourth week, the human toll continues to mount. At least 13 American service members have been killed, along with 14 Israeli troops. The United Nations has warned that 3 million Iranians have been displaced by the US and Israeli bombing campaign.
Millions of Iranians marked both Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz this week under the shadow of war, with volunteers preparing food parcels and Eid sweets for displaced families sheltering in public universities turned into emergency housing.
What Comes Next?
The war stands at a critical inflection point. The US military claims decisive progress — Iran’s navy is largely destroyed, its missile capability is severely degraded, and its nuclear infrastructure has now been directly targeted. But Iran continues to fight, its Strait of Hormuz blockade remains in effect, and the global energy crisis shows no sign of easing.
Trump faces a fundamental choice: escalate further — potentially including the ground operation Netanyahu has pushed for — or find an off-ramp that allows him to declare victory and withdraw. Some White House aides have reportedly urged the president to set limits on the operation’s scope, but it remains unclear whether that advice is gaining traction.
One thing is certain: on Day 22, the “short excursion” Trump promised has become the defining crisis of his second term.