Epic Fury, Roaring Lion: American, Israeli Forces Strike Iran in Joint Combat Operation

by Susan Katz Keating

The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes across Iran early Saturday, hitting military and regime-linked targets in a major joint combat operation against the Islamic Republic. The Pentagon announced the mission as Operation Epic Fury. Israeli described its own part as Operation Roaring Lion.

President Donald Trump confirmed U.S. participation in a recorded eight-minute address posted to his Truth Social platform.

“I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand,” Trump told Iranians.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” he said. “Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his own video message, saying that the operation was launched “to remove the existential threat” posed by the Islamic Republic, and “create the conditions” for Iranians to change their destiny.

“The time has come for all parts of the Iranian people… to cast off the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-seeking Iran,” Netanyahu said.

Iran vowed to retaliate, and launched missiles against Israel early on Saturday.

An American official speaking on condition of anonymity told Soldier of Fortune that American forces in the region are “on highest alert” against strikes from Iran.

Iranian state media acknowledged explosions in Tehran but did not release casualty figures or identify the sites that were hit. Iranians both inside the country and overseas posted online videos of themselves celebrating the strike.

Susan Katz Keating is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Soldier of Fortune Magazine.