Vol. 2, Issue 4 — March 8, 2026 I. Direct Confrontation in the Persian Gulf: Operation Epic Fury On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched "Operation Epic Fury," a massive joint military campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The initial wave involved nearly 900 strikes targeting Iranian air defenses, ballistic missile facilities, and leadership compounds. Notably, reports from the reporting period confirm the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in