Operation Epic Fury enters its third day as President Trump reveals a timeline for the assault, oil markets convulse over the Strait of Hormuz closure, and Capitol Hill gears up for the biggest war powers fight in a generation.
Trump: ‘Four to Five Weeks‘ to Finish the Job
In a striking interview with The New York Times published Sunday, President Donald Trump laid out his most detailed timeline yet for Operation Epic Fury — the massive joint U.S.-Israeli military offensive that has been hammering Iran since February 28.
“Four to five weeks,” Trump said when asked how long the campaign would last. He insisted it “won’t be difficult” for the U.S. and Israel to sustain the assault, and called on Iran’s military to simply “surrender their weapons to the Iranian public.”
The remarks came hours after Trump issued a video update from Mar-a-Lago in which he described Epic Fury as “one of the largest, most complex, most overwhelming military offensives the world has ever seen.” He also vowed to “avenge” the deaths of three American service members killed in action — the first U.S. combat fatalities of the operation.
CENTCOM confirmed on March 1 that three troops were killed and five seriously wounded. Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions. Trump acknowledged that more casualties were “likely” as combat operations continue.
40 Senior Iranian Commanders Killed — Regime Leadership ‘Decimated’
The scale of the decapitation campaign is becoming clearer by the hour. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Sunday that 40 senior Iranian commanders have been killed since the operation launched, including the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi, who was struck in Tehran.
This comes on top of the most consequential kill of the campaign: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran since 1989, was confirmed dead in the opening salvo of strikes on February 28. Trump announced the killing via Truth Social. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, threatened that Trump and Netanyahu had “crossed a red line” and would “pay for it.”
A leadership council has reportedly assumed emergency power in Tehran, but the regime appears to be fracturing. The strikes targeted not only military installations but also Basij paramilitary bases in Kermanshah and Tehran provinces — the same forces that brutally suppressed the December 2025–January 2026 protests.
Iran Retaliates Across the Gulf — Dubai, Doha, Israel Hit
Iran is not going quietly. Retaliatory strikes have widened dramatically, with Iranian missiles and drones targeting Israel, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan — essentially every country in the region hosting U.S. military assets.
Loud blasts were heard in Dubai on Sunday, and Kuwait’s health ministry reported one person killed and 20 wounded by Iranian strikes. In Israel, an Iranian strike in Beit Shemesh killed six people. An Iranian drone also hit a British military base in Cyprus, drawing NATO concern.
CENTCOM says U.S. forces have “successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks,” though the sheer volume of fire indicates Iran is burning through its arsenal in a bid to inflict maximum damage before its launch capabilities are fully degraded.
Strait of Hormuz Effectively Closed — Oil Jumps to 14-Month High
Perhaps the most far-reaching consequence for everyday Americans and the global economy: the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed.
Iran attacked an oil tanker in the strait on March 1 and warned all vessels against transiting the waterway. The result was immediate. Brent crude surged 13% in early Monday trading, hitting $82 a barrel — a 14-month high. Bloomberg called it the biggest single-session oil spike in four years.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply. Analysts warn that if the closure persists, prices could blow past $100 a barrel, sending shockwaves through gas stations, supply chains, and inflation-sensitive markets worldwide.
One berth at Dubai’s Jebel Ali port was also damaged, underscoring how the conflict is already disrupting critical Gulf infrastructure beyond Iran’s borders.
Congress Prepares for War Powers Showdown
Back in Washington, the political battle is just as intense. Congress is expected to vote this week on resolutions requiring Trump to seek Congressional authorization for continued military action against Iran.
Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) is leading the push in the Senate, calling on lawmakers to return immediately. “The lives of our troops are at risk,” Kaine told NPR. “We ought to come back to Washington right away to vote on this.” A procedural vote could come as early as Tuesday.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is echoing the call. The resolution — co-sponsored by Republican Senator Rand Paul — would require a specific authorization for use of military force, invoking the constitutional principle that only Congress can declare war.
The White House has pushed back hard, arguing the strikes were justified by an “imminent threat” from Iran’s nuclear program. A White House statement titled “Peace Through Strength” framed Epic Fury as the completion of a strategic degradation campaign that spans both Trump administrations.
But the votes are unlikely to succeed. Roll Call reports that even with bipartisan support from Paul and a handful of Republicans, the resolution lacks the numbers to overcome a veto. The war powers debate, however, is far from academic — it sets the stage for the legal and political framework of a conflict that Trump himself says could last over a month.
What Comes Next
The situation is evolving by the hour. Here’s what to watch:
- Iranian retaliation capacity: How long can Iran sustain missile volleys against Gulf states and Israel before its arsenal is depleted?
- Strait of Hormuz: Will the U.S. Navy secure shipping lanes, or will oil markets continue their upward spiral?
- Regime stability: With Khamenei dead and 40 commanders eliminated, can the emergency leadership council hold the country together — or will Iran fracture?
- Congress: Tuesday’s procedural vote will be a bellwether for domestic political support. If Republicans break ranks, it could reshape the war’s trajectory.
- Civilian casualties: Reports of the Minab school airstrike (148 deaths) and strikes on civilian neighborhoods are fueling international condemnation. The UN Security Council held an emergency session Saturday.
Operation Epic Fury is now the defining crisis of 2026. With American troops in harm’s way, oil markets in turmoil, and Congress preparing to reassert its war powers, the next 48 hours could determine whether this conflict escalates into a full-scale regional war — or finds an off-ramp.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.