Operation Epic Fury Enters Week 3 With a Major Strategic Pivot
Operation Epic Fury — the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran — has now entered its third week with no end in sight, and the Pentagon is shifting its strategy in a dramatic new direction.
What was initially expected to last just a few days has evolved into the most sustained American air campaign since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. And now, a bombshell report from The Wall Street Journal has confirmed what many analysts feared: Russia is actively arming and supporting Iran behind the scenes.
Here’s everything you need to know about the latest developments.
CENTCOM’s New Strategy: Dismantling Iran’s Entire Defense Industry
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper announced on March 16 that American forces have shifted from neutralizing immediate missile and drone threats to systematically destroying Iran’s “wider manufacturing apparatus” and defense industrial base.
This is a significant escalation in the scope of the campaign. In the first two weeks, the combined U.S.-Israeli force focused on suppressing Iran’s active missile launchers, air defenses, and naval capabilities. Now, the crosshairs have moved to the factories, depots, and supply chains that keep the Iranian war machine running.
Cooper revealed that U.S. forces struck a drone production facility in Tehran on March 11, while Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) hit a missile production site in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, on March 17. The combined force also targeted:
- A military depot in Yazd associated with “IRGC missile command infrastructure” used to build torpedoes
- Shiraz Electronics Industries (SEI) — a sanctioned facility producing military electronics, radars, avionics, and missile-guidance systems
- An ammunition depot in Sirjan, Kerman Province
- A drone facility in South Khorasan Province — one of the easternmost strikes since the war began
- The IRGC Navy headquarters in Tehran
The numbers are staggering. According to Cooper’s March 16 briefing, U.S. and coalition forces have:
- Flown more than 6,000 combat flights over Iran
- Destroyed over 100 Iranian naval vessels, including 30+ minelaying ships
- Struck more than 5,500 targets across the country
- Deployed over 20 distinct weapons systems across air, sea, land, and missile defense forces
“We aren’t done,” Cooper said bluntly.
Russia’s Secret War: Upgraded Drones, Satellite Intel, and US Base Locations
The most explosive development this week came from a Wall Street Journal investigation published March 18, confirming that Russia has dramatically expanded its military support for Iran.
According to anonymous sources — including a senior European intelligence official — Moscow’s support includes:
- Combat-upgraded Shahed drones: Russia has returned enhanced versions of Iran’s own Shahed drones, upgraded with improved control and targeting capabilities developed during years of use against Ukraine
- Tactical drone advice: Russian military advisors are providing guidance on how many drones to launch per wave and at what altitudes for maximum effectiveness
- Satellite imagery: Moscow has been directly providing Iran with satellite data showing the locations of U.S. military facilities across the Middle East
- Intelligence on allied bases: Russia is sharing data on the positions of Washington’s closest regional allies’ military installations
The cooperation reportedly deepened from the very first days of Operation Epic Fury. Intelligence officials believe Russian support helped Iran successfully strike U.S. military radars and facilities in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was the first to publicly confirm the drone transfers in a CNN interview, stating: “I have 100 percent facts that they — that Iranian regime used against American bases… they used these drones.”
The irony is sharp: the same Shahed drones that terrorized Ukrainian cities are now being turned against American forces — with Russian upgrades. Debris from a Russian-manufactured version of the Shahed was reportedly discovered in Dubai.
President Trump has so far declined to address the Russian support directly, calling journalists’ questions about it “stupid.” His special envoy Steve Witkoff claimed he received assurances from Moscow that Russia is not sharing intelligence with Iran — assurances the WSJ report directly contradicts.
Iran’s Leadership Crisis: Where Is Mojtaba Khamenei?
As bombs fall on military installations across Iran, a deepening mystery inside Tehran’s power structure is adding another layer of uncertainty to the conflict.
Mojtaba Khamenei — who was named Supreme Leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the opening U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28 — has not been seen publicly in days.
Conflicting reports paint a grim picture:
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the new Supreme Leader was wounded and “likely disfigured”
- President Trump claimed he had heard Mojtaba Khamenei “is not alive,” though he offered no evidence
- Unverified rumors suggest he may have been transferred to Moscow for medical treatment
This matters enormously because of Nowruz — the Persian New Year, which falls on Friday, March 20. Iran’s Supreme Leader traditionally delivers a Nowruz address to the nation. If no message appears, it would signal a profound fracture in Tehran’s power structure at the worst possible moment.
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has seized on the moment, calling on Iranians to turn the pre-Nowruz fire festival, Chaharshanbe Suri, into a symbol of national solidarity. He even hinted he might “celebrate Nowruz in Tehran this year” — a loaded statement suggesting he may be positioning for a political role in a post-war Iran.
Massive Military Buildup: B-52s, F-35s, and Marines Headed to the Fight
The U.S. military footprint in the region continues to grow, signaling that Washington expects this campaign to last well beyond the “few days” originally anticipated.
Recent deployments include:
- Three additional B-52 Stratofortress bombers arriving at RAF Fairford, UK, bringing the total to 18 heavy bombers (12 B-1B Lancers and 6 B-52s)
- Ten F-35A Lightning II fighters deployed to RAF Lakenheath
- USS Tripoli (LHA-7) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit heading to the Middle East
- A-10 Warthogs still operating on the frontlines
The bombers operating from the UK have been using AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles and GBU-31 JDAM bunker-busting bombs, both of which have been spotted during loading operations at RAF Fairford. At least five bomber sorties have launched from the UK since March 10, each involving multiple B-1B Lancers on grueling 34-hour round-trip missions.
Israel’s Operation Rising Lion is reportedly planned to continue for at least three more weeks, according to CNN.
The Strait of Hormuz Crisis
While the air campaign dominates headlines, the economic impact of the war is being felt most acutely in the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.
Iran has effectively disrupted shipping through the strait, and Trump has demanded that seven countries join an international naval coalition to escort oil tankers. The crisis has sent oil prices soaring, with Bloomberg reporting that crude has pushed past $110.
Admiral Cooper stated that the U.S. aims to “end Iran’s ability to project power and harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” noting that CENTCOM has destroyed naval mine warehouses and manufacturing facilities across Iran.
But analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warn that a weakened regime remaining in power could still disrupt shipping “whenever and for however long it pleases with little effort” — raising uncomfortable questions about the endgame.
Iran Hits Back: Basij Commander Killed, Asymmetric Warfare Escalates
Iran isn’t taking the punishment lying down. Tehran’s strategy has pivoted toward asymmetric warfare — and the results have been mixed but persistent.
In recent days:
- Iran confirmed the death of Basij militia commander Gholamreza Soleimani — the highest-level assassination since the war began
- Iran launched one of its heaviest waves of missile strikes in a 24-hour period since fighting began
- The regime is using social media blackouts, cracking down on Starlink access, and reducing VPN availability to control the information space
- Reports have emerged of Basij volunteers standing at checkpoints with their children — a practice human rights organizations call using minors as human shields
Tehran has also struck back diplomatically, with Iran’s foreign minister accusing the U.S. and Israel of “ecocide” after strikes hit fuel depots, and Iran threatening to bomb Saudi, UAE, and Qatari oil facilities.
What Comes Next?
As Epic Fury enters its third week, several critical questions loom:
- Will the Nowruz deadline reveal the truth about Iran’s leadership? If Mojtaba Khamenei fails to deliver a Nowruz address on March 20, it could trigger internal instability
- How will the U.S. respond to confirmed Russian support? The WSJ report puts Trump in an awkward position, given his pursuit of a Ukraine deal with Putin
- Will ground operations begin? The deployment of Marines to the region has fueled speculation about a ground component
- Can Iran sustain its resistance? With its air force neutralized, navy decimated, and defense industry under systematic attack, Tehran’s options are narrowing
One thing is clear: what started as a targeted strike operation has become something much larger. And with Russia now confirmed as an active participant in supporting Iran, the geopolitical implications extend far beyond the Middle East.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to List25 for continuous coverage.