The world woke up to a different reality today. As of February 28, 2026, the smoke rising over Tehran and the sirens wailing across the Middle East signal more than just a localized strike—they signal the beginning of what the Trump administration has termed "major combat operations" in Iran.
For many, this is a moment of profound anger and heartbreak. While the geopolitical justifications fly across our news feeds, the human reality is far more somber: our service members are once again in the crosshairs of a conflict with no clear end in sight.
A Massive Escalation Under the Radar
What began in the early hours of this morning as Operation Epic Fury (or Roaring Lion in Israel) has quickly evolved into an unprecedented air and sea campaign. This isn't just about surgical strikes on nuclear facilities; the targets have expanded to include:
Government Centers: Strikes hit near the compound of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the National Security Council in Tehran.
Military Infrastructure: Over 500 targets across 14 cities, including air defenses and IRGC command hubs.
The Ultimate Goal: President Trump has been explicit—the objective is regime change, calling on the Iranian people to "take over your government" while promising "certain death" to those who resist.
The Human Cost and the Constitutional Crisis
While the White House frames this as a path to liberation, the immediate fallout is devastating. Reports from IRNA have already confirmed civilian casualties, including a strike that hit a girls' school in southern Iran.
Back home, a storm is brewing in Washington. Critics are calling this an "illegal and authoritarian" move, noting that the President launched these strikes without Congressional authorization. Many lawmakers, like Senator Mark Warner and Representative Adam Smith, have warned that this "war of choice" bypasses the checks and balances designed to prevent precisely this kind of unilateral escalation.
Thoughts with Our Service Members
The bravest among us—the men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines—are now facing the brunt of Iran's retaliation. Ballistic missiles have already targeted U.S. installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
As we watch the headlines, our hearts are with the families waiting for news. We have been here before, and the lessons of the past twenty years should have taught us that "weeks-long operations" rarely stay within their borders.
"The American people have seen this playbook before—claims of urgency, misrepresented intelligence, and military action that pulls the United States into regime change." — Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)
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