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Operation Epic Fury Timeline
Home > Events > OPEF > Timeline
Operation Epic Fury began on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with a U.S.-Israel joint multi-domain offensive against Iran to destroy its missile, drone, and nuclear infrastructure. The mission saw rapid success in establishing air superiority, degrading Iran's air force, destroying Iran's navy, disruption of Iran's defense industry, and limiting Iran's ability to attack neighbors with missiles and drones.
"Strategy without tactics
is the slowest route to victory.
Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat"
Sun Tzu, The Art of
War, 6th Century BC
May 2026
No significant updates to report. Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has increased slighty. Iran continues to send missiles and drones to someof the Gulf nations. Ceasetalks are not going anywhere. President Trump's visit to China doesn't seem to have an significant impact on the Iran confict at this time.
May 18, 2026
According to President Trump, the renewal of a bombing campaign against Iran was called off due to requests from Gulf states to allow negotiations to continue.
May 14, 2026
The Congressional Research Service
published a report entitled "U.S. Aircraft Combat Losses in
Operation Epic Fury: Considerations for Congress", CRS IN12692,
May 13, 2026
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IN12692
Four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter
aircraft
One F-35A Lightining II fighter aircraft
One A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft
Seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft
One E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft
Two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft
One HH-60W Jolly Green II CSAR helicopter
Twenty-four MQ-9 Reaper drones
One MQ-4C Triton drone
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May 13, 2026
The ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains fragile, with negotiations continuing through intermediaries while both sides accuse each other of violating understandings reached in April.
Diplomatic efforts are ongoing, but competing peace proposals, continued military strikes, and disputes over freedom of navigation indicate that the broader Iran conflict remains unresolved and could escalate again quickly.
U.S. officials have declared the offensive phase of Operation Epic Fury effectively over, shifting toward a defensive maritime posture focused on protecting shipping and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the ceasefire, the U.S. naval blockade of Iran remains in place, and Iran continues to exert partial control over maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz while threatening or harassing vessels.
Recent days have seen limited commercial movement resume through Hormuz, including several Chinese-linked tankers transiting the area under heightened military tension and insurance concerns.
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May 12, 2026
The Iran war has pushed inflation to highest rate in nearly three years. The Labor Department's consumer price index rose at 3.8 percent annual pace in the year ending in April. Surging gasoline prices are driving up the inflation rate.
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May 11, 2026
Iran provided a counter offer to the U.S. one-page, 14 point memorandum of understanding that would put a 30-day ceasefire into effect while negotiations could continue. The Iranian demands are essentially the same. Keeping control of the Strait of Hormuz, not giving up the uranium that they have enriched, and not ceasing their uranium production.
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May 10, 2026
The "one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding" that the U.S. provided to Iran calling for a 30-day ceasefire where negotiations would resume still has not been accepted by Iran.
Asian farmers are suffering with the high prices of fuel and fertilizer, planting seasons have begun but with less output expected in the months ahead. Currently, farmers in Asia are suffering but soon the shortage of fuel and fertilizer will affect the western hempisphere. (Washington Post, May 9, 2026).
Russia is shipping drone components to Iran via the Caspian Sea - helping Iran rebuild its offensive capabilities after losing a good percentage of its drone arsenal. "Long Overlooked, Caspian Sea Provides Strategic Route for Iran", The New York Times, May 9, 2026.
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May 9, 2026
The Royal Navy is deploying a destroyer to the Middle East region. The HMS Dragon is a Type 45 destroyer. "Britain to deploy air defence warship to Hormuz", UK Defence Journal, May 9, 2026.
It is reported that the CIA estimates Iran still has 70-75% of its missiles. The U.S. has expended 45% of its precision strike inventory.
May 8, 2026
On Friday, May 8, U.S. Central Command announced (X) that CENTCOM forces have redirected 57 commericial vessels and disabled 4 to prevent the ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports.
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May 7, 2026
On Thursday, three U.S. destroyers transiting out of the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz were attacked by Iranian drones, missiles, and small boats. No damage to the U.S. ships and all attacking forces were destroyed. See a Truth Social post on this topic.
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May 6, 2026
President Trump has suspended "Project Freedom". American military bases were targeted in Erbil, Iraq on Wednesday, May 6. In addition, Kurdish forces near Erbil were targeted. Behind the scenes negotiations are occuring through intermediaries; principally Pakistan.
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May 5, 2026
On Tuesday, May 5, Iran established the "Persian Gulft Strait Authority" which requires advanced coordination with Iran and paying a toll for vessels that wish to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
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May 4, 2026
Today is the first day of an operation the U.S. is conducting to provide safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for U.S.-flagged and neutral commercial vessels. The U.S. is conducting mine clearance and providing directions for the safe lanes of the strait for travel.
Iran says that it fired to missiles at a U.S. warship attempting to enter the strait on Monday. The U.S. says none of its ships were struck. One commericial vessel from a South Korean shipping firm was struck. The engine room caught fire, ship is being towed to Dubai and crew is safe.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported missile and drone launches over its airspace on Monday, the first attacks from Tehran since the U.S.-Iran ceasefire went into effect last month.
U.S. Navy MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters and U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters were used to eliminate Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping.
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May 3, 2026
There is a lot of discussion about the 60-day War Powers Act. Some are calling the naval blockade and extension of hostilities but the Trump administration is saying that the 'war' has ended once the ceasefire was implemented.
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May 2, 2026
Another proposal has been sent by Iran to the Trump administration. The president is looking it over. It has three main features. The administration is looking it over. The U.S. naval blockade is still in effect. Maritime traffic is stll minimal due to threats of Iranian mines, and attacks by small boats, rockets, and drones.
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May 1, 2026
Iran has floated yet another counter-proposal through Pakistan intermediaries. Still not much of a compromise as Iran continues to hold on to its right to enrich uranium and control the Strait of Hormuz.
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