THE EPIC FURY OF THE LION'S ROAR: A MILITARY ANALYSIS OF THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

On the morning of Saturday, 28 February 2026, starting at 10:12 Tehran time (07:42 CET), the Israeli Air Force (IAF) and the US forces deployed in the Area of Responsibility (AoR) of US Central Command (USCENTCOM) launched a coordinated military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which immediately took the form of a massive campaign of air and long-range bombardments. The campaign, the result of long planning and conducted in full synchronization, unfolded through an Israeli operation, officially named Roaring Lion and announced by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at 10:57, and a US action, named Operation Epic Fury and announced by the Pentagon at 12:09. Although operating in close collaboration, however, the two countries pursued distinct sets of objectives from the outset: the United States focused their activities on degrading Iran’s military capabilities and military-industrial complex, with particular reference to the missile segment, nuclear facilities, naval infrastructure and air defense systems; Israel, on the other hand, stated that it aimed to remove the existential threat posed by Tehran, focusing on political and military leadership, missile sites in western Iran, and Command and Control (C2) facilities. In our Focus Report, we will analyze the forces involved, how the operations have unfolded, and the potential impact the conflict could have on the balance of power in the Middle East.