Operation Epic Fury and the 2026 Middle East Crisis

Vocabulary and key concepts from the 2026 Special Conflict Report regarding the war between Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Operation Epic Fury

The coordinated US and Israeli surprise offensive launched on February $28$, $2026$, which involved nearly $900$ strikes against targets across Iran within its first $12$ hours.

Ali Khamenei

The Supreme Leader of Iran from $1989$ until his death on February $28$, $2026$, during a targeted strike on a compound in Tehran.

Strait of Hormuz

A critical maritime waterway through which approximately $20\%$ of the world\u2019s oil passes; it was closed and mined by Iranian forces during the $2026$ conflict.

Twelve-Day War

A conflict in June $2025$ that degraded Iran\u2019s air defenses and set back its nuclear program by an estimated $2$ years.

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)

The international nuclear agreement from which the United States withdrew in $2018$, leading to the reimposition of sanctions and the eventual collapse of nuclear negotiations in $2025$ and $2026$.

Axis of Resistance

An Iranian-led regional alliance that was severely weakened by the decapitation of Hezbollah leadership in $2024$ and the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December $2024$.

Admiral Brad Cooper

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander who led the delivery of combat power against the Iranian regime during Operation Epic Fury.

Beit Shemesh

The city in central Israel where a ballistic missile strike on March $1$, $2026$, killed $9$ civilians, marking the deadliest single incident on Israeli soil during the conflict.

Juffair district

The location in Bahrain that houses the US Navy\u2019s $5$th Fleet headquarters, which was targeted by Iranian forces during the retaliation phase.

ACLED

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, which documented nearly $2,000$ distinct conflict events across $29$ of Iran\u2019s $31$ provinces.

South Pars gasfield

One of the largest natural gas fields in the world; it was struck by Israeli forces, prompting Iranian retaliatory attacks on Gulf energy sites.

IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency, which discovered concealed highly enriched uranium in an underground Iranian facility surviving the $2025$ bombings.

Scott Bessent

The US Treasury Secretary who announced measures to mitigate global oil price spikes caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Keir Starmer

The UK Prime Minister who condemned Iranian counter-strikes but stated he did not believe in \u201cregime change from the skies,\u201d declining direct military participation in the offensive.