WASHINGTON, United States: After years of US planning and weeks of military buildup, President Donald Trump gave the order for American forces to strike Iran: “Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck.”
US forces then launched a sweeping campaign of strikes that has smashed Iranian command-and-control sites, destroyed missile infrastructure and sunk navy vessels.Below, AFP examines key moments in the US operation against Iran.
The United States has for weeks been building up military forces in the Middle East “to reinforce deterrence and provide the president with credible options should action be required,” top US military officer General Dan Caine told a news conference on Monday.“These movements ensured that US forces remain postured, protected and ready to respond decisively for any emerging threat,” he said.
“This deployment included thousands of service members from all branches, hundreds of advanced fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, dozens of refueling tankers, the Lincoln and Ford carrier strike group and their embarked air wings, sustained flow of munitions, fuel supplies.”
The order for the strikes came on Friday afternoon, Caine said. It was issued by Trump and conveyed by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to US Central Command (CENTCOM) -- which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East.
“The president directed, and I quote, ´Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck,´” Caine said.“The first movers were US CYBERCOM and US SPACECOM, layering non-kinetic effects, disrupting and degrading and blinding Iran´s ability to see, communicate and respond,” Caine said, referring to Cyber and Space Commands.
Major US combat operations then began Saturday at 9:45 am in Tehran, or 1:15 am Saturday on the east coast of the United States.“More than 100 aircraft launched from land, sea -- fighters, tankers, airborne early warning, electronic attack, bombers from the States and unmanned platforms -- forming a single synchronized wave,” according to the general.
