Trump's Top General Discloses Operation Epic Fury Against Iran
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has provided a gripping minute-by-minute account of President Donald Trump's Operation Epic Fury, a military campaign designed to eliminate Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and cripple the nation's military and nuclear infrastructure. Speaking alongside Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at a Pentagon press conference on Monday, Caine revealed the dramatic details just two days after Trump initiated the conflict with Iran.
The Presidential Order and Initial Strikes
Caine described the pivotal moment when Trump unilaterally authorized the war. "At 3.38pm, on Friday, February 27, the United States Central Command, through the Secretary of War, received the final go order from President Trump," he stated. "The President directed and I quote, 'Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck.'" Remarkably, two hours after issuing this command, Trump appeared on stage in Texas, publicly claiming he was still undecided about military action, saying, "We have a very big decision to make...I'd rather do it the peaceful way. But they're very difficult people."
By 2:30 AM EST, Trump released a video from Mar-a-Lago announcing the country was at war with Iran. The initial attack focused on Iran's leadership, ballistic missile sites, and intelligence infrastructure, leaving "the adversary without the ability to see, coordinate or respond effectively." Caine explained that at 9.45am Tehran time, as dawn broke, skies surged to life with over 100 aircraft launching from land and sea, forming a single synchronized wave. This daylight strike was based on a trigger event conducted by Israeli defense forces, enabled by U.S. intelligence.
Massive Military Deployment and Casualties
The operation involved B-2 bombers flying 37-hour missions from the continental U.S. to drop bombs on underground nuclear facilities in Iran. Caine emphasized that America executed "a massive overwhelming attack across all domains of warfare, striking a thousand targets in the first 24 hours." Cyber and space commands were deployed to confuse the enemy, and by 5:00 EST, Trump announced the Ayatollah had died in Tehran after an Israeli strike.
However, the military objective in Iran, which does not include regime change, "will be difficult to achieve, and in some cases, will be difficult and gritty work," Caine admitted. He added that U.S. forces are expected to take additional casualties. So far, four U.S. troops have died, with 18 reported injured, following Iranian drone and missile attacks across the Middle East in retaliation.
Strategic Goals and Timeline
Hegseth and Caine stated that the ultimate goal is to destroy Iran's military and nuclear weapons development. Caine said Trump's mission was "to protect and defend ourselves, and together with our regional partners, prevent Iran from the ability to project power outside of its borders." The operation resulted from "months, and in some cases, years, of deliberate planning and refinement."
Neither official provided an exact timeline or exit strategy, though troops are not currently deployed on the ground in Iran. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail on Sunday, Trump suggested the war could last up to four weeks, saying, "It's always been a four-week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so...it's a big country, it'll take four weeks - or less." Hegseth claimed America "didn't start this war" but is finishing it under Trump, warning that "war is hell and it always will be" as a fourth U.S. soldier was confirmed dead following Iranian strikes in Kuwait.
