The New York Times Investigation
An investigation by The New York Times details a covert military operation against Iran, authorized by then-U.S. President Donald Trump in collaboration with Israel. The timeline began with a secret meeting lasting nearly three hours between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office on February 11. Two weeks later, Trump sanctioned a major military bombardment of Iran. This strike resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, the loss of four American service members, and dozens of Iranian civilian casualties. This event marked a significant escalation in the long-standing tensions between the U.S. and Iran over its nuclear program.
Operation Epic Fury
Trump gave the final authorization for the mission, codenamed Epic Fury, while aboard Air Force One en route to Corpus Christi, Texas. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt described the president's decision as a courageous step. Trump himself acknowledged that American casualties would likely increase. By mid-February, the Pentagon had assembled forces for a weeks-long campaign, deploying approximately 40,000 U.S. troops, two aircraft carriers, and other military hardware to the region.
Another meeting between Trump and Netanyahu took place in December at the Mar-a-Lago estate. On January 14, Netanyahu asked Trump to delay the strike until the end of the month. A final round of negotiations occurred in Geneva, where the Iranian side presented a seven-page plan. During a video conference with Congressional leaders on February 24, Trump discussed the situation, noting he did not expect cooperation from Iran. Donald Trump told reporters:
“By the end of the talks, I realized these guys weren't going to budge. So I said: let's just do it.”
The CIA had determined that on Saturday morning, Iran's Supreme Leader was scheduled to be at his residence in central Tehran with senior leadership. The strike was carried out on that Saturday morning. During a Situation Room meeting on February 18, participants debated options for the military campaign. General Kane presented two scenarios: a limited strike to increase pressure during negotiations, or a large-scale campaign aimed at toppling the Iranian government. At the meeting, J.D. Vance remarked that if the U.S. was going to hit Iran, it needed to 'hit big and fast.'
CIA assessments of the consequences of Ayatollah Khamenei's death included the potential rise of a radical cleric, a popular uprising, or a pragmatic faction within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seizing power. Commenting on the situation, Trump suggested that the latter might be the best possible outcome. According to Senator Lindsey Graham, President Trump genuinely believed in trying diplomacy first, but the situation rapidly spiraled out of control.
This military operation became a pivotal moment in the relations between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. It underscores the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the potential consequences for global security. The international community's reaction to these events may influence future diplomatic efforts and security strategies in the region, as well as U.S. domestic politics, as military actions invariably spark vigorous debate among politicians and the public. Furthermore, the operation's results could alter the regional balance of power and impact the future trajectory of U.S.-Iran relations.