US, Israel Launch 900-Strike Iran Assault, Killing Khamenei and Decapitating Military Leadership
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 19
US, Israel Launch 900-Strike Iran Assault, Killing Khamenei and Decapitating Military Leadership
10 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 19
Operation Epic Fury hit Iran with nearly 900 strikes in 12 hours, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and wiping out much of the regime’s military leadership.
Iran answered with hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of one-way attack drones across the region, turning the assault into a wider exchange before an April 8 ceasefire.
By April 1, the UAE alone had intercepted 438 ballistic missiles, 2,012 drones and 19 cruise missiles, while US losses reached 13 service members killed and 381 wounded.
The report argues the campaign exposed a new cost imbalance: Shahed drones priced at $20,000-$50,000 can force Patriot interceptors costing more than $4 million each.
That dynamic, following the 2025 Midnight Hammer strikes, reinforces a broader US debate over avoiding deeper Middle East wars and shifting defense spending toward cheaper mass defenses.
Once the world's richest nation, how will Qatar survive with its primary income source potentially gone for years?
With Qatar's gas offline and helium scarce, is the world's tech industry on the brink of a multi-year crisis?
Can a massive WWII-style engineering project truly break Iran's strategic chokehold on global energy?
The 2026 Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Global Energy Shock, $100 Billion Loss for Qatar, and the Acceleration of the Energy Transition
Overview
In March 2026, war erupted between Iran and a U.S.-Israel coalition, quickly halting the vital Strait of Hormuz and sending shockwaves through global markets. Tensions had already been high, but Iran’s attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery marked a turning point, making Gulf energy infrastructure a direct target. This aggressive move pushed neighboring Gulf states closer to joining the conflict. As oil shipments through the Strait largely stopped due to threats of further attacks, the resulting closure triggered a dramatic surge in energy prices and forced urgent international responses, highlighting the region’s critical role in global energy security.