US-Israeli Operation Epic Fury: Inside the Decision to Strike Iran
By Erin Banco, Gram Slattery and Maayan Lubell
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, March 23 (Reuters) – Less than 48 hours before the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran began, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone to President Donald Trump about the reasons for launching a complex military operation, a type of far-off war the American leader once campaigned against.
The Window of Opportunity
Both Trump and Netanyahu were informed by intelligence briefings earlier in the week that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and key lieutenants would meet at his compound in Tehran, creating a potential opportunity for a “decapitation strike” – an attack targeting a country’s top leaders. Intelligence indicated this meeting had been moved forward to Saturday morning from Saturday night.
Netanyahu’s Argument for Action
Netanyahu, advocating for an operation he had long urged, argued there might not be a better chance to eliminate Khamenei and avenge previous Iranian attempts to assassinate Trump. These included a 2024 murder-for-hire plot allegedly orchestrated by Iran, in retaliation for the U.S. Killing of Qassem Soleimani, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ top commander. The Justice Department has accused a Pakistani man of involvement in recruiting individuals within the United States for this plot.
Trump’s Initial Approval and Buildup
By the time of the call, Trump had already approved the idea of a U.S. Military operation against Iran but hadn’t decided on the timing or circumstances. The U.S. Military had been increasing its presence in the region for weeks, leading many within the administration to believe a decision was imminent. A previous potential date had been postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions.
The Catalyst for Operation Epic Fury
Sources suggest the call, along with intelligence indicating a closing window to eliminate Iran’s leader, was a catalyst for Trump’s final decision to order Operation Epic Fury on February 27. Netanyahu argued that eliminating Khamenei could make history and potentially lead to an uprising within Iran, overthrowing the theocratic system established in 1979.
The first strikes occurred on Saturday morning, February 28. Trump announced that evening that Khamenei was dead.
White House Response and Netanyahu’s Denial
In response to a request for comment, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated the military operation was designed to “destroy the Iranian regime’s ballistic missile and production capacity, annihilate the Iranian regime’s Navy, complete their ability to arm proxies, and guarantee that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon.”
Netanyahu dismissed claims that Israel pressured the U.S. Into conflict, stating, “Does anyone really think that someone can share President Trump what to do? Come on.” Trump has publicly maintained that the decision to strike was his alone.
Israel’s Advocacy and Trump’s Decision-Making
Reporting indicates Netanyahu was an effective advocate, and his framing of the decision – including the alleged Iranian plot to kill Trump – was persuasive to the president. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested revenge was a motive, stating, “Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh.”
Previous Strikes and Escalation
Trump’s 2024 campaign focused on an “America First” foreign policy, with a preference for diplomatic solutions with Iran. However, as negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program stalled in the spring, Trump began considering a strike. A first attack in June targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and missile sites, with U.S. Forces later joining the 12-day operation. Trump publicly declared the U.S. Had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Months later, discussions resumed between the U.S. And Israel about a second aerial attack, aiming to further dismantle missile facilities and prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Israel also sought to eliminate Khamenei, a long-standing adversary responsible for missile attacks and support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Planning and Cooperation
Initially, Israel planned to act alone, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz. However, during a December visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, Netanyahu expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the June operation. Trump indicated openness to another campaign but also desired further diplomatic efforts.
Two events pushed Trump toward another attack. The U.S. Operation in January to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with no U.S. Casualties, demonstrated the potential for ambitious military operations with limited consequences. Simultaneously, widespread anti-government protests in Iran, met with a violent response from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, prompted Trump to vow support for the protesters.
Privately, cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. Military’s Middle East command (CENTCOM) intensified, with joint military planning conducted in secret meetings.
Final Briefings and the Decision to Strike
In February, Netanyahu briefed Trump on Iran’s ballistic missile program and the potential threat to the American homeland. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Congressional leaders that Israel was likely to attack Iran, with or without U.S. Participation, and that Iran would likely retaliate against U.S. Targets.
U.S. Intelligence assessments supported this prediction, anticipating Iranian counterstrikes against U.S. Diplomatic and military outposts and allies. This prediction proved accurate, leading to Iranian counterattacks, civilian deaths, attacks on U.S. Allies, and a surge in oil prices.
Regime Change and its Aftermath
Trump was briefed on the possibility that eliminating Iran’s leaders could lead to a more amenable government in Tehran. This was one of Netanyahu’s arguments in the call before Trump authorized the attack. However, the CIA assessed that Khamenei would likely be replaced by an internal hardliner.
Trump repeatedly called for an uprising following Khamenei’s death. As the conflict enters its fourth week, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards remain in control, and millions of Iranians remain sheltered in their homes. Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, considered even more anti-American than his father, has been named the new supreme leader of Iran.
(Reporting by Erin Banco and Gram Slattery; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Editing by Craig Timberg, Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis)