On February 28, 2026, Israel and the USA launched a series of coordinated preemptive strikes under the code names Operation Roaring Lion (Israel) and Operation Epic Fury (USA) to weaken the Iranian regime, its nuclear program, missile potential, and military infrastructure. The attacks are ongoing. The strikes are being conducted in several waves. More than 200 Israeli Air Force fighters and two U.S. Navy carrier strike groups — the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford with accompanying ships — are involved.
“100 Hours” of Operation Epic Fury. pic.twitter.com/XW5ZnRAJJL
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 4, 2026
The attacks are focused on key elements of the Iranian regime, military, and nuclear infrastructure. In total, the USA and Israel have attacked over 2000 targets throughout the country, with an emphasis on western Iran and Tehran. The Pasteur complex (residence and office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Khamenei was killed along with family members and high-ranking officials) was hit, as well as the headquarters of the Ministry of Intelligence, Ministry of Defense, judiciary, Supreme National Security Council, and other government areas in Tehran, residences and offices of high-ranking officials, including Security Advisor Ali Shamkhani and IRGC commanders, IRGC headquarters and bases, command points. Also targeted were missile launchers, airfields, drone bases, and the fleet (including the frigate Jamaran and the Imam Ali base in Chabahar), air defense systems, missile and drone production facilities in western Iran, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Ilam, Khorramabad, Bushehr, military complexes in Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Shiraz, Zahedan, and Khoy, enrichment centers in Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan, Parchin, and Qom (damage is significant, but the IAEA does not confirm strikes on all nuclear facilities). Police stations, detention centers, intelligence offices, ports, and cultural sites were also hit.
Losses are estimated at over 787 dead (including civilians) and 1000+ injured (data from the Iranian Red Crescent organization).
Since February 28, Iran has been responding with massive missile and drone strikes on American assets in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East.
The world’s not-so-poor countries so far have means to defend themselves and have performed well.
Qatar: Air defense intercepted up to 97% of threats (over 65 missiles and drones). Consequences of Iran’s strikes: at the Al Udeid Air Base, an AN/FPS-132 radar (detection range – 5000 km, cost – about a billion dollars) and a 3D long-range radar were destroyed, hangars with aircraft and infrastructure were damaged, and the base sustained significant damage.
Kuwait: Air defense demonstrates nearly complete interception (97 missiles and 283 drones). In a zeal attack, Kuwait’s air defense shot down three US Air Force F15E Strike Eagle jets. Fortunately, all six pilots survived. At the Ali Al Salem and Camp Arifjan bases, three radars, eight satellite communication center buildings, and several other structures were damaged. The US Embassy in Kuwait was hit: due to a fire, the diplomatic mission was closed, buildings were damaged, including the CIA office. Six military personnel were killed at Camp Arifjan.
Bahrain: effective interception (45 missiles and 145+ drones). Destroyed two AN/GSC-52B radars, a radar dome, and two SATCOM satellite communication terminals. UAV Shahed strikes hit the headquarters of the 5th Fleet of the US Navy. Significant damage was inflicted on several large buildings, missile storage, and hangars in particular. The base is a key hub for coordinating US maritime operations in the region.
UAE: Iran’s most powerful strike was against them, but air defense shows 92–96% interception (165+ missiles and 541 drones). Destroyed an AN/TPY-2 radar of the US THAAD battery, a missile defense radar in Elroy city (cost — about $500 million). UAV Shahed attacked the US consulate in Dubai, a fire broke out, but there were no casualties. Damaged communication infrastructure, including: SATCOM terminals and radars at military facilities. Damaged civilian objects, including the port of Dubai, with casualties among the civilian population.
Jordan: intercepted over 90% of air attack means (13 missiles and 36 drones).
Saudi Arabia: air defense works effectively, managed attacks near Riyadh overall, but an object near the AN/TPY-2 radar at Prince Sultan Airbase was damaged. Missed two UAV strikes on the US embassy in Riyadh, on the CIA office. Damaged communication objects and radars at military bases.
Oman: local attacks, UAV overflights through the country’s airspace, but no damage so far.
Israel: The four-layer air defense system (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow-2/3) intercepted several attacks (over 1,500 rockets/drones since February 28) with an efficiency of 85–92% interceptions. The rockets that breached hit the city of Beit Shemesh: nine dead, about 75 injured. For comparison, in 2025, the air defense worked with an efficiency of ~85%, but US Navy destroyers equipped with the Aegis system were involved. Iran attacks Israel up to 62 times a day, putting pressure on the air defense and depleting missile reserves, but the system still holds. On March 4, for the first time in the last 40 years, an Israeli Air Force F35 fighter jet engaged in an air battle over Tehran with an Iranian Air Force Yak-131 fighter and, of course, won.
US Navy Ship Group: The integrated Aegis system on Arleigh Burke class destroyers (anti-aircraft missiles SM-6, SM-3), supplemented with ODIN/HELIOS lasers for drone/missile targeting (on USS Spruance, USS Dewey, etc.), repels attacks. Land-based THAAD batteries and our favorite Patriot SAM systems are active. The efficiency is high — 90–97% interceptions. We note that together with the Gulf countries, they withstood an attack significantly smaller than those Ukraine regularly defends against throughout the night.
Overall, Iran launched about 3,000 rockets and drones, setting an absolute record in the region’s history. The Ayatollah’s regime uses UAVs and missiles to deplete interceptor missile stocks, gathering data on radar positions for future attacks. At least 11 American targets have been hit, focusing on degrading air defense and communication systems. The situation remains dynamic.
What does all this mean for Ukraine? Mr. Vitaliy Portnikov formulated the answers better than others:
– a quick defeat of the Iranian regime and a demonstration of Russia’s inability to help yet another ally—after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad and Nicolás Maduro—is indeed in Ukraine’s interests;
– increasing oil prices: for Americans, this means new fuel prices and, consequently, a decrease in consumer purchasing power. For Putin, this is another opportunity to patch a hole in the Russian state budget just a little. Therefore, the Russian president is keenly interested in this new war being prolonged;
– if the Iranian regime survives, albeit weakened, there will be many contenders for air defense and anti-missiles—precisely when Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine;
– if we talk about the total confrontation of “two worlds,” we must understand that when the situation reaches a stalemate on one front of such a confrontation, there arises a need to break the balance elsewhere. And so on until a global war. Or until a conflict in which the number of local tensions and their consequences approach World War III;
– we cannot influence the duration of the war with Iran. But we can and must do everything possible to ensure that in the conditions of such a large-scale conflict, Russia’s war against Ukraine does not end up on the periphery of political interest, attention from politicians and the media. We must remind about this war and its connection to the conflict in the Middle East.
On the cover: Several squadrons of F/A-18 fighters support ongoing operations against Iran. U.S. forces fly day and night, providing overwhelming firepower. March 2, 2026. Photo: U.S. Central Command @CENTCOM
