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When the United States and Israel struck Iran’s nuclear facilities in June last year, the operation caught many observers off guard — the planning was tightly concealed. By contrast, when Operation Epic Fury started in the early hours of Feb. 28, much of the world was staying up refreshing their screens, waiting for it to begin. Open source analysts tracked the usual indicators of escalation: satellite imagery, repositioning of carrier strike groups, and cryptic statements from officials. Intelligence agencies monitored missile deployments, while journalists quoted inside sources.

The U.S. Armed Forces have been confirmed to be receiving F-35 fifth generation fighters without their radars, despite denials by the Department of War in February that this was the case. This is a result of an outstandingly long certification time for the AN/APG-85 next generation radar, which was developedto enhance the capabilities of the F-35 to succeed the older AN/APG-81.

President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he would likely delay his planned state visit to Beijing by “a month or so” to focus on the war with Iran underscores the fragility of the U.S.-Chinese truce that has held since October. Expectations of a U.S.-Chinese thaw had resurfaced in recent months as both sides worked toward a summit, reduced tariffs and carried out a series of good-faith measures like delaying implementation of export controls.

Footage released from inside Israel has shown the impacts of multiple ballistic missiles launched by Iran against targets in the southern city of Dimona, striking near the country’s most sensitive nuclear site the Negev Nuclear Research Centre. Although Israel does not rely on nuclear power, the facility produces significant quantities of plutonium for a nuclear arsenal estimated at 80-400 warheads. Footage has shown Israeli anti-missile systems consistently failing to hit Iranian ballistic missiles, with strikes reported by Israeli sources to have caused over 100 casualties.