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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.

Map of Iran

"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


June 5, 2026

Iran said that it fired on U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz region. CENTCOM stated that these Iranian statements are false, that no U.S. vessels were fired on.

June 3, 2026

President Trump continues to say that Iran and the U.S. are close to negotiating an end to the Iran conflict. Iranian statements indicate that the two countries are no longer passing messages through intermediaries. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to force an end to the Iranian conflict. The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.

June 1, 2026

Iran announced on Monday, June 1, that it will move to close the Strait of Hormuz and stop exchanging messages with the United States through intermediaries. It has accused the Trump administration and Israel of ceasefire violations.

May 31, 2026

Over the weekend May 30/31) CENTCOM conducted self-defense strikes on Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran and Qeshm Island.

May 30, 2026

Five U.S. personnel, a mix of service members and contractors, were injured at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. They were injured by falling debris when Iranian ballistic missiles were intercepted during the missile attack. One MQ-9 Reaper was destroyed and another damaged.

May 29, 2026

Abraham Accords. President Trump has inserted a sticking point into the negotiations of the ceasefire agreement with Iran. He now wants Gulf and Arab countries to normalize ties with Israel as part of the Iran peace talks. This new demand by Trump will most likely be a failed initiative. "Trump's Hail Mary on Abraham Accords falls flat", The Hill, May 29, 2026.

Vessel Diabled by U.S. A Gambia-flagged maritime vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port was disabled by CENTCOM forces on May 29.

May 27, 2026

On Wednesday, Iran launched a ballistic missile toward Kuwait that was successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti forces. Iran also launched five one-way attack drones that were intercepted by U.S. forces.

Depleted Missile Inventory. CSIS has released a detailed report about how Operation Epic Fury has reduced the inventory of missiles to a problematic level. Read "Rebuilding U.S. Missile Inventory: A Multiyear Project", May, 27, 2026.

May 25, 2026

No significant updates to report. Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has increased slighty. Iran continues to send missiles and drones to some of 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.


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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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Timeline
Summary Timeline


Daily Summary

April 2026 Timeline
March 2026 Timeline
February 2026 Timeline

May 2026

May 17, 2026
May 16, 2026
May 15, 2026
May 14, 2026
May 13, 2026
May 12, 2026
May 11, 2026
May 10, 2026
May 9, 2026
May 8, 2026
May 7, 2026
May 6, 2026
May 5, 2026
May 4, 2026
May 3, 2026
May 2, 2026
May 1, 2026



External Sources

Iran - SOF News
Epic Fury - SOF News
OEFU Casualties

 



 

 

 

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