The United States and Israel have opened a large‑scale air campaign against Iran, with the Pentagon naming the operation Epic Fury. By early 1 March, Iranian state media confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following strikes on leadership and security sites in Tehran. U.S. Central Command said the first wave began at 01:15 ET on 28 February. (centcom.mil)
Central Command described target sets including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command nodes, air defences, ballistic‑missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields. It reported no U.S. combat casualties in the initial Iranian retaliation of missiles and drones against regional bases. Official footage of the opening salvo was later released via DVIDS. (centcom.mil)
Iran launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. partners including Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar, with most projectiles intercepted according to U.S. and allied statements. A U.N. Security Council emergency session convened as Secretary‑General António Guterres warned of escalation risks. (apnews.com)
Khamenei’s death marks a decisive escalation in a campaign that U.S. officials say aims to neutralise Iran’s missile capacity and prevent any renewed nuclear weapon effort. President Donald Trump indicated in an Axios interview that he could either continue operations for an extended period or conclude them within “two or three days,” signalling multiple potential ‘off‑ramps’. (en.wikipedia.org)
CENTCOM also confirmed the first combat use of low‑cost one‑way attack drones modelled on Iran’s Shahed systems during Epic Fury. The command characterised the current posture as the largest regional concentration of U.S. military firepower in a generation. (english.news.cn)
Decision‑making spanned multiple locations. While the president monitored strikes from Mar‑a‑Lago, the Washington Post reported Vice‑President JD Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were in the White House Situation Room, on a secure line with the president and national security team. Gabbard’s appointment as DNI was confirmed by the Senate on 12 February 2025. (washingtonpost.com)
Congressional oversight intensified within hours. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Gang of Eight had been briefed earlier in the week and expressed support for the strikes, while Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer demanded immediate briefings and questioned the absence of “critical details” on the threat’s scope. Former Vice‑President Kamala Harris opposed what she called a “war of choice.” (newsmax.com)
War Powers requirements now shape the timetable. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a president must report to Congress within 48 hours of introducing U.S. forces into hostilities; absent specific authorisation, operations must cease within 60 days (extendable by 30). Democrats and some Republicans are advancing concurrent resolutions to direct removal from hostilities with Iran unless Congress authorises force. (congress.gov)
The statutory landscape has narrowed. Bipartisan provisions repealing the 1991 and 2002 Iraq AUMFs were included in, and signed with, the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act on 18 December 2025, shifting legal reliance back toward Article II and any new, Iran‑specific authorisation Congress may consider. (kaine.senate.gov)
At the U.N., Iran denounced the strikes as violations of the Charter and filed correspondence reserving its right of self‑defence. The U.S. previously notified the Council of actions against Iranian targets in June 2025 under Article 51; as of 1 March, attention is on whether a fresh letter has been lodged for Epic Fury. (aa.com.tr)
European leaders urged de‑escalation and a return to nuclear diplomacy, with the UK, France and Germany calling for a negotiated solution while condemning Iranian missile attacks on regional states. The immediate policy question is whether Washington can meet stated military objectives without a protracted campaign that would test both domestic authorisation and coalition support. (theguardian.com)
What to watch next: any 48‑hour report from the White House to Congress under the War Powers Resolution; whether leadership targets expand or taper; signs of an Article 51 notification to the U.N.; and Capitol Hill moves toward a tailored Iran AUMF or binding constraints on operations. Each will determine the legal and political headroom for Epic Fury in the weeks ahead. (congress.gov)