Operation Epic Fury

Trump chose national security over political safety in confronting Iran - opinion

Thank you, Trump, for refusing to allow Iran to dictate America’s foreign policy. Thank you for recognizing that the US cannot spend another 50 years managing the same threat.

 US President Donald Trump seen over an illustrative image of American-Iranian ties (illustrative)
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 151, launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during the ongoing conflict with Iran July 31, 2026.

US, Iran renew strikes in overnight clashes, future of ceasefire talks hangs in the balance

US Sailors conduct night flight operations aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73), August 30, 2026.

US strikes two Iranian launchers preparing to reportedly fire sea mines at Strait of Hormuz

US Air Force F-35A stealth fighter jets patrol the skies over the Middle East, published August 9, 2026.

US military chiefs warn Hegseth that Iran war is weakening forces needed to counter intl. threats


Three soldiers wounded in Hezbollah attack, no injuries reported after IDF tank hits bomb in Gaza

Some 15 settlers enter Kusra despite IDF closure • Three Iranian military pilots held captive in Qatar for six months without contact; Qatar denies reports, says it found remains of one

The IDF strikes targets in Gaza's Khan Yunis, August 15, 2026.

Trump says he will declare Strait of Hormuz a 'territory of the United States' after defeating Iran

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded to Trump's comments later on Friday, saying that "Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power."

US President Donald Trump reacts as he speaks to the media with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent behind him, on the day of a NATO leaders' summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026.

US lost 45 Reaper drones in Iran war, raising supply concerns for future hostilities - report

In May, Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told the House Armed Services committee that during the war, the Reaper was "perhaps the most valuable player."

An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted drone aircraft performs aerial maneuvers over Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, US, June 25, 2015.

Tehran says Hormuz 'cannot be seized' after Trump says he will declare strait US territory

Shipping traffic drops in Strait of Hormuz • UAE condemns 'aggressive Iranian attack' on tankers • IDF to probe soldiers' conduct in Kusra

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One on August 14, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

CENTCOM refutes reports of sailors jumping from USS Lincoln as conditions aboard face scrutiny

Hegseth also rejected the claims, saying that the reports about Lincoln's conditions are "misrepresented." US Navy confirmed that a sailor went overboard; the circumstances are under investigation.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) sails alongside the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

US prepares USS George Washington to replace Lincoln in Mid East, Iran maintains it controls Hormuz

Kusra residents vow to stay despite extremist settler violence • US, Israel deny agreement on foreign forces for Hezbollah disarmament • Hamas plans to run in upcoming Palestinian elections

Explosion of infrastructure in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side. August 10, 2026.

Israeli defense officials rethinking all war fronts as IDF reportedly strikes southern Lebanon

Trump covertly escorted off Air Force One to another plane • Iranian official says US blockade worse than war • Israeli officials say LAF not doing enough on the ground

IDF Central Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth commands soldiers during the manhunt for a terrorist in the West Bank, July 24, 2026.

Pakistan says US, Iran nearing a peace deal while US forces defend naval blockade in Gulf

Hormuz must open, German FM tells Araghchi • IAEA to remove nuclear material from Syria after deal with US, Israel reached • Kurds demonstrate in Syrian cities

Israeli soldiers patrol in the Palestinian village of Tell in the West Bank on August 11, 2026.

Donald Trump secretly switched planes in Turkey over Iranian assassination threat - report

The arrangement concealed Trump's actual location for several hours, not only from the American public but also from many senior administration officials.

US President Donald Trump gestures during a stop to switch to the Qatari-gifted Air Force One after arriving on one of the older planes operating as Air Force One, to return to Washington after his participation in a NATO leaders summit in Turkey, at RAF Mildenhall, Britain, July 8, 2026

Khamenei names new Iran military, IRGC chiefs after commanders killed in Israeli-US strikes

Ahmad Vahidi was formally named IRGC chief as Khamenei filled six senior military positions following the deaths of their predecessors in Israeli-US strikes.

A woman holds a portrait of Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, on the day of a gathering to support Mojtaba Khamenei, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026.