The US military campaign against Iran shows no signs of slowing down as Operation Epic Fury enters its third week, with fresh deployments of B-52 bombers, F-35 fighters, and Marines heading to the Middle East.
As the conflict that began on February 28 stretches well beyond its initially expected timeline, President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a fiery update — claiming more than 7,000 targets have been struck across Iran while lashing out at NATO allies for refusing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Claims Iran’s Leaders Are “All Dead”
In a combative press conference on March 16, President Trump made the stunning claim that Iran’s leadership has been effectively wiped out.
“He hasn’t spoken,” Trump said of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, comparing him unfavorably to his late father. “Nobody’s seen him, which is unusual.”
Trump went further: “All of their leaders are dead. We don’t know who we’re dealing with.”
The claim aligns with intelligence assessments reported by CBS News and Fox News, which suggest the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is now “calling the shots” in Iran. Israeli intelligence reportedly assesses that Mojtaba Khamenei may be injured, with IRGC personnel managing day-to-day military operations.
Trump also stated the US has destroyed all 30 of Iran’s mine-laying ships in the Strait of Hormuz, though he warned Iran could still use other vessels to mine the critical Persian Gulf waterway.
NATO Allies Refuse to Help With Strait of Hormuz
In what may be the most significant diplomatic development of the week, NATO allies have flatly rejected Trump’s demand for military assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally flows.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s spokesperson was blunt: “This war has nothing to do with NATO. It’s not NATO’s war.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the sentiment, stating it “won’t be and it’s never been envisioned to be a NATO mission.” Greece has refused any military involvement, and Italy called for diplomacy to prevail. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said foreign ministers showed “no appetite” to expand naval operations to Hormuz.
Trump fired back at the UK specifically, saying the US is “not happy” with Britain and that he was “very surprised” by Starmer’s refusal.
“I always felt that was a weakness of NATO,” Trump said. “We were going to protect them, but I always said, when in need they won’t protect us.”
Massive Military Buildup Continues
Operation Epic Fury is expanding rather than winding down. According to The Aviationist, the US Air Force has deployed three additional B-52 Stratofortress bombers to RAF Fairford in the UK, bringing the total to 18 heavy bombers at the British base — including 12 B-1B Lancers and six B-52s.
Ten F-35A Lightning II fighters have also arrived at RAF Lakenheath, while the USS Tripoli (LHA-7) amphibious assault ship and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are en route to the Middle East.
The bombers have been employing AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Missiles (JASSM) and GBU-31 bunker-busting JDAMs against hardened Iranian targets. At least five bomber sorties have launched from RAF Fairford since March 10.
Perhaps most dramatically, videos have emerged showing F/A-18 Super Hornets operating at low altitude over the Iranian port city of Chabahar, including footage of strafing runs with their M61 20mm cannons — a stark demonstration of US air superiority over Iranian territory.
Iran’s Military Capabilities Gutted
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on March 13 that Iranian missile volume is down 90 percent and one-way attack drone volume is down 95 percent since the start of the war. The Pentagon’s campaign to systematically dismantle Iran’s offensive capabilities appears to be achieving its stated objectives.
However, new intelligence suggests Iran is adapting. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on March 15 that Iran is reportedly using Russian-produced and possibly modified Shahed drones to continue targeting US bases and Gulf countries, raising concerns about Moscow’s involvement in the conflict.
Oil Crisis Deepens
The economic fallout continues to intensify. Middle East oil exports have dropped at least 60 percent due to Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping data and Reuters calculations.
Crude oil prices surged to $104 per barrel on Monday — one of the highest levels since July 2022. The disruption represents the world’s biggest-ever oil supply disruption, forcing exporters to cancel shipments and shut production at oilfields across the region.
The economic pressure is being felt worldwide, with global travel and trade severely disrupted, flights in and out of the Middle East halted, and shipping forced to reroute away from both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
Israel Plans Three More Weeks of Strikes
While the US campaign’s endgame remains unclear, CNN reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are planning to continue their parallel Operation Rising Lion for three more weeks. The IDF has been conducting its own strikes on Basij checkpoints and military targets across Iran, including positions in Tehran Province.
The combined US-Israeli operation has targeted leadership facilities, military installations, missile production sites, nuclear program remnants, and strategic communications infrastructure. Since launching on February 28, the campaign has expanded far beyond its original scope — initially expected to last just a few days.
KC-135 Loss and Ongoing Risks
The campaign has not been without cost. CENTCOM announced that a KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in Iraq on March 12 during Operation Epic Fury. Rescue efforts are ongoing. Six US service members have been killed in action since the operation began, with remains of two previously unaccounted-for personnel recovered from a facility struck during Iran’s initial retaliatory attacks.
Iran continues to launch projectiles at civilian and oil infrastructure in the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Hezbollah has claimed 27 attacks on IDF positions in northern Israel, and the Lebanon front has escalated into a full-scale conflict.
What Happens Next?
As Operation Epic Fury enters its third week, several critical questions remain:
Can Iran sustain any meaningful military resistance? With missile and drone capabilities reportedly decimated, the regime’s ability to project force is rapidly diminishing — though Russian-supplied drones represent a potential lifeline.
Will NATO buckle under pressure? Trump’s public shaming of allies could either force their hand or deepen the transatlantic rift at the worst possible moment.
Who is actually running Iran? If Trump’s claims about the leadership being “all dead” are even partially true, the question of who controls Iran’s remaining military assets — and who could negotiate a ceasefire — becomes urgent.
How long can the global economy absorb $100+ oil? With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and exports down 60 percent, the economic pressure on all parties to find a resolution is mounting by the day.
One thing is clear: Operation Epic Fury has exceeded every initial expectation in scope, scale, and duration — and there’s no end in sight.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.