Top Stories • March 2, 2026

Operation Epic Fury has widened into a broader Middle East confrontation. Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rocket barrages from Lebanon into northern Israel overnight, marking the fiercest escalation since the campaign began and prompting immediate Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah positions. At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces are carrying out “laser-focused” operations aimed at dismantling Iran’s missile and military infrastructure, cautioning that the conflict will take time. European nations are increasingly drawn in after a suspected Iranian-made drone struck the British RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, causing minor damage with no reported injuries, following London’s approval for U.S. use of its bases for defensive strikes. France and other EU partners have moved toward heightened defensive readiness. Meanwhile, U.S. and Israeli strikes inside Iran continue in response to Tehran’s missile and drone attacks across Israel and the Gulf.

Daniel Compatangelo reports.