Operation Epic Fury: How Israel and US planned the strikes on Iran

Israel and US on Saturday launched a daylight attack on Iran, closing the window for a diplomatic solution to Tehran's long-running nuclear dispute with the West.

The strikes reportedly took place near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, the 86-year-old leader was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a secure location during the attacks.




According to local media reports, there were at least three to four strikes in Tehran.

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This comes as United States deployed aircraft carriers, fighter jets, guided-missile destroyers and other capabilities to the Middle East in recent weeks. It includes two of the largest US warships -- the Gerald R Ford and the Abraham Lincoln.

US President Donald Trump has described it as a massive naval armada.

'Operation Lion's roar': How US and Israel planned the attacks
US named its operation against Iran ‘Operation Epic Fury.’

In his first statement after the strikes, Trump asserted that US's goal is 'eliminating imminent threats' from Iran.

"US will destroy Iranian missile industry, 'annihilate' the navy," he added.

According to news agency Reuters, the strikes are being carried out by air and sea. An Israeli defence official told the news agency that the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks ago.

Another source told Israeli media outlet the Times of Israel that the “initial phase” of the joint attack is planned to last for at least four days.

The TV report says the timing of the initial strikes for the morning hours was designed to surprise the Iranians, who would not have expected a daytime attack.

Also read: Trump reacts to US-Israel joint strikes in Tehran, says 'eliminating threat from Iranian regime'

An unnamed security source tells Channel 12 that the operation was jointly planned for months. The source says Israel is going “all out” in this operation, and the US is “on the same page.”

The source also says the “initial phase” of the joint attack is planned to last for four days.

'Not exactly happy' with Iran
The attack comes after Israel and Iran engaged in a 12-day air war in June, following repeated US-Israeli warnings that they would strike again if Iran pressed ahead with its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Earlier in the day, Trump said he is "not exactly happy" with Iran's handling of negotiations over its nuclear programme, stressing that the country cannot possess nuclear weapons.

Also read: US-Israel strike Iran: Tehran says ‘time to defend homeland’, hits back with missiles – key points

"We haven't made a final decision (on Iran). We're not exactly happy with the way they're negotiating. They cannot have nuclear weapons. And we're not thrilled with the way they're negotiating. So we'll see how it all works," Trump said.

"I am not happy with the fact that they are not willing to give us what we have to have. I'm not thrilled with that. We'll see what happens. We'll have some additional talks today. But, no, I'm not happy with the way they're going," he added.