Updates on the Coordinated U.S.-Israeli Military Operation Epic Fury

Mar 8

Damaged residential area in Lamerd, southwest Iran, following a reported missile attack targeting local infrastructure

What We Know So Far

A coordinated U.S.-Israeli military campaign that began on February 28 has grown into a wider regional conflict. As of Sunday, March 8, the fighting includes repeated airstrikes, missile launches, and economic disruption across the Middle East. Early reporting from BBC coverage of the strikes and Associated Press reporting on the conflict described the first attacks as a coordinated operation targeting Iranian military sites.

This update explains what we know so far, what is still unclear, and how the conflict affects everyday people—including Americans who ultimately pay for the war.

In the first hours of the war, the Israeli Air Force said roughly 200 fighter jets struck about 500 targets, using more than 1,200 bombs in the first 24 hours.

The attacks were part of a coordinated military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury and codenamed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel. Involved airstrikes, missiles, and cyber operations targeting Iranian military infrastructure.

What Is Happening Inside Iran Right Now

Strikes have hit multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran and other military and infrastructure sites. The campaign began on February 28 when a coordinated military operation known as Operation Lion’s Roar targeted Iranian leadership compounds, missile facilities, and security installations across the country. Some attacks have targeted oil depots, military aircraft, and suspected military command facilities. Smoke and fires have been reported in parts of Tehran after explosions near energy infrastructure. Civilian areas have also been affected as missiles hit nearby locations or debris fell from interceptions.

Early estimates indicate the war has already caused more than 1,200 deaths in Iran and hundreds more across the region, with additional casualties reported in Lebanon and Gulf states as the conflict spreads. Damage has included oil depots, desalination plants, and transportation infrastructure.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes against U.S. bases and allied countries in the region, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. In Kuwait alone, 97 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones were intercepted during early retaliatory attacks.

Iran has also targeted energy infrastructure outside its borders. For example, drones struck Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the largest in the country, forcing a temporary shutdown and disrupting exports.

At the same time, the government in Iran has restricted communication across the country. During the escalation following the strikes, internet connectivity across Iran dropped to around 4% of normal levels, creating a near-total information blackout. Internet traffic dropped by as much as 98% after the strikes, creating a near‑total blackout that makes it difficult for people inside the country to share information with the outside world.

These developments show the conflict is no longer limited to a single set of strikes. It has become a wider regional confrontation involving multiple countries, military bases, and critical infrastructure.

What We Know So Far

Israel confirmed it carried out pre‑emptive strikes inside Iran. Israeli officials said the operation was coordinated with the United States.

According to analysis cited by ABC News on the cost of the Iran war, the opening attacks used thousands of precision munitions and multiple aircraft, showing the scale of the operation.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and toward U.S.‑linked targets in the region, which has been reported by outlets including Al‑Jazeera’s coverage of regional strikes.

Military analysts say these early exchanges suggest the conflict could continue as a sustained air campaign rather than a single strike.

What Is Claimed — But Not Fully Verified Yet

In the early hours of any conflict, information spreads quickly and is often incomplete.

News outlets including Associated Press reporting on the developing situation have emphasized that many claims about destroyed facilities, leadership casualties, or major strategic outcomes cannot be confirmed immediately.

Images and videos circulating on social media may be real, old footage reused from other wars, or completely fabricated.

Because of that, reliable reporting depends on multiple sources, satellite images, and official confirmations.

The Information Blackout Inside Iran

One major obstacle is the internet disruption reported across Iran.

When the internet shuts down across a country:

• Fewer videos and photos come directly from civilians.
• Governments control more of the narrative.
• False information spreads more easily.

Analysis cited by Financial Times reporting on the conflict notes that information blackouts often become part of the strategy in modern wars.

Civilian Ripple Effects: Flights, Shipping, and Oil Prices

Even people far from the battlefield are already feeling the effects.

Air travel has been disrupted across the region. Airlines rerouted or cancelled flights after attacks on Iran disrupted flights across the Middle East.

Shipping companies have also been warned about risks in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil routes. Governments including Greece warned vessels to avoid dangerous areas after shipping risk alerts reported by Reuters.

Energy markets reacted quickly as well. Analysts cited by Financial Times reporting on oil markets say disruptions in the Gulf could push oil prices higher worldwide.

Higher oil prices often lead to:

• Higher gasoline prices
• Higher shipping costs
• Higher prices for food and goods

That means wars overseas can quickly affect everyday costs at home.

How Much the War Costs Per Day

One of the most important questions is how much the war costs.

Analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates the first phase of the conflict cost about $3.7 billion in the first 100 hours, which equals roughly $890 million per day.

Other estimates reported in news coverage suggest the cost could reach around $1 billion per day as the operation expands.

These costs include:

• fighter jet flights
• precision missiles
• naval operations
• air‑defense systems
• logistics and fuel

Some missiles used in air defense call THAADS can cost millions of dollars each, while advanced aircraft operations also add major expenses.

What That Money Could Fund in the United States

Numbers like $1 billion per day can be difficult to understand. To put that amount in perspective for Americans, it is roughly equal to the cost of funding several major domestic programs for millions of people. Comparing them to domestic programs helps show the scale. Here are a few examples.

Health Care

Analysis cited in policy discussions shows that $1 billion could fund a full year of health coverage for roughly 110,000 Medicaid patients.

Food Assistance

The federal SNAP food assistance program provides benefits averaging roughly $180 per person per month.

That means $1 billion could provide about 5.5 million months of food assistance for low‑income Americans.

WIC Nutrition Program

The WIC program, which supports pregnant women and young children, costs about $60–70 per person per month on average.

One billion dollars could provide over 14 million months of WIC nutrition support.

Affordable Care Act Subsidies

Subsidies that help Americans afford health insurance through the Affordable Care Act support millions of families each year. Analysts note that extending those subsidies nationally costs tens of billions—meaning only weeks of war spending could equal major health‑care programs.

These comparisons do not determine whether a war is justified—but they illustrate the scale of the financial trade‑offs.

Why Wars Often Cost More Than Expected

History shows wars frequently become much more expensive over time.

Research from the Costs of War Project at Brown University estimates that post‑9/11 wars have cost the United States more than $8 trillion, including long‑term medical care for veterans and interest on debt.

Economists say the final cost of wars usually includes:

• military operations
• reconstruction
• long‑term veterans’ care
• interest on borrowed money

Because of those long‑term expenses, the full cost of conflicts often continues for decades.

What to Watch Next

Over the next few days and weeks, analysts will be watching several key questions.

• Will Iran expand attacks to regional oil infrastructure?
• Will the United States increase the scale of its military campaign?
• Will shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz remain open?
• Will diplomatic efforts begin to reduce the risk of wider war?

These developments will determine whether the conflict stays limited—or grows into a larger regional crisis. For Americans, the stakes extend beyond foreign policy. Wars affect fuel prices, government spending, and national debt. The longer a conflict lasts, the more its costs ripple through the economy, influencing everything from federal budgets to everyday household expenses.