An Update From the Pentagon on "Operation Epic Fury"

Summary

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Episode Overview

Title: An Update From the Pentagon on "Operation Epic Fury"
Date: March 2, 2026
Host: Dave Anthony, FOX News Podcasts

This episode provides a fast-paced, comprehensive update on "Operation Epic Fury," the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign targeting Iran's missile capabilities and military infrastructure. It details the military objectives, current developments, allied involvement, and global repercussions, including market turmoil and heightened travel security. The episode also briefly covers the funeral of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and a tragic incident in North Carolina.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Operation Epic Fury: Military Objectives and Status

• Mission Focus: Destroy Iranian offensive missiles, missile production, naval and security infrastructure; Prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

  • Pete Hegseth (00:07):

    “The mission of Operation Epic Fury is laser focused. Destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their navy and other security infrastructure and they will never have nuclear weapons.”

• Response to Critics: The mission is not akin to extended Middle East wars such as Iraq.

  • Pete Hegseth (00:25):

    “...the media outlets and political left screaming endless wars stop. This is not Iraq. This is not endless.”

• US Military Losses: Four Americans have died, with injuries also reported.

  • Pete Hegseth (00:34):

    “War is hell and always will be. A grateful nation honors the four Americans we have lost thus far and those injured.”

• Pentagon Update:

  • Additional US forces are deploying.
  • The mission is expected to be "difficult and gritty," with an expectation of further losses.
  • Iran's supreme leader has been killed among 500+ Iranian deaths.
  • Dave Anthony (00:43):

    “This mission is going to take some time and in some cases will be difficult and gritty work. We expect to take additional losses. Iran's supreme leader has been killed among the 500 plus deaths in Iran.”

Notable Segment:

• Timestamps:
  • Pete Hegseth’s remarks: 00:07
  • US military and casualty updates: 00:34–00:43

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2. On-the-Ground Reports and Repercussions

Iran & Regional Fallout

• Attack Impact:
  500+ Iranian deaths; hundreds of sites struck; 9 ships destroyed; Iran’s military command structure eliminated.

  • Stephanie Bennett (01:02):

    “Hundreds of targets in Iran have already been hit. Nine of the country's ships have been destroyed and the entire military command has gone.”

• Iran’s Retaliation:

  • Strikes against neighboring Gulf states.
  • Smoke seen near US embassy in Kuwait.
  • US fighter jet losses due to friendly fire (all crews safe).
  • Stephanie Bennett (01:02):

    “In retaliation, Iran has targeted neighboring Gulf states... US Military said three US Fighter jets crashed due to an apparent friendly fire incident. All crew members ejected safely.”

Security for Americans Abroad

• State Department: Worldwide caution alert for Americans; many Middle East embassies evacuated or sheltering in place.
  • Dave Anthony (01:24):

    “The State Department has a worldwide caution alert for Americans everywhere. Many U.S. embassies in the Middle east either evacuated or with a shelter in place.”

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3. Israel Under Fire

• Multi-Front Attacks:

  • Hezbollah rockets from Lebanon force Israeli retaliation.
  • Ongoing missile fire from Iran.
  • Dave Anthony & Trey Youngston (01:30–01:52):

    “Israel has been under counterattack on two fronts. Hezbollah launching rockets from Lebanon... as Iran also keeps firing.”
    “New incoming ballistic missile fire hitting Israel today in the southern city of Beersheva. At least 10 people were wounded and taken to a local hospital when one of those Iranian missiles slipped past air defense systems.” (Trey Youngston, 01:39)

• Casualties: At least 9 Israelis killed in Iranian attacks.

  • Dave Anthony (01:52):

    “At least nine Israelis have died in the Iranian attacks.”

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4. Economic & Travel Consequences

• Markets:

  • Oil prices up 8%, gold up 3%.
  • Dow futures down more than 500 points amid fears of a wider conflict.
  • Dave Anthony (01:58, 04:10):

    “Oil prices are surging. Stock market sell off looms.”
    “Dow futures are down more than 500 points... oil's up almost 8%, gold's up 3%...”

• Air Travel:

  • Significant disruption, especially Middle East hubs (Dubai, Abu Dhabi).
  • Dave Anthony (04:10):

    “More than half the 2,300 flights canceled today are to or from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.”

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5. International Response: Britain’s Role

• UK’s Position:

  • Britain not participating in attacks but allowing US use of its bases to launch raids on Iran to “prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk and hitting countries that have not been involved.”
  • Jonathan Savage & Unnamed UK Official (02:49–03:10):

    “With Iran attacking multiple Gulf nations, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has agreed to allow the United States military to operate from British facilities...”

• Consequences for UK:

  • Iranian drone hit a UK base in Cyprus (no casualties).
  • 300,000 British citizens reside in Gulf region.
  • Jonathan Savage (03:10):

    “Shortly after this announcement, an Iranian drone hit a UK military base in Cyprus. No one was hurt.”

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6. Other Major News

Tribute to Jesse Jackson

• State Funeral:
  • Honoring civil rights leader, Jesse Jackson, in South Carolina.
  • Public memorial and half-staff flags; further events in Chicago.
  • Chris Foster (03:37):

    “Flags fly at half staff in South Carolina until sundown. People are invited to pay their respects at the state capitol in Columbia before a public memorial service at a Baptist church... Jackson died Feb. 17. The South Carolina services are part of two weeks of events.”

North Carolina State Trooper Killed

• Accident:
  • Trooper Stephen Perry killed in a highway crash caused by a wrong-way driver; both died.
  • Dave Anthony (04:10):

    “A state trooper is being mourned the day after Stephen Perry was killed on a highway in Durham by a driver going the wrong way. That driver also died in the crash.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “War is hell and always will be. A grateful nation honors the four Americans we have lost thus far and those injured.”
  — Pete Hegseth, War Secretary (00:34)

• “Britain is not taking part, but is now allowing the US to use their bases.”
  — Dave Anthony, Host (02:40)

• “At least 10 people were wounded and taken to a local hospital when one of those Iranian missiles slipped past air defense systems.”
  — Trey Youngston, Tel Aviv Correspondent (01:39)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Description | Speaker | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------| | US & Israeli objectives; not another Iraq | Pete Hegseth | 00:07–00:25 | | US casualties and the gravity of war | Pete Hegseth | 00:34 | | Iran’s supreme leader killed; 500+ deaths, escalation | Dave Anthony | 00:43 | | Dozens of targets, ships in Iran destroyed | Stephanie Bennett | 01:02 | | Israel under attack; missile makes it past defenses | Trey Youngston | 01:39 | | Oil & stock market turmoil, air travel chaos | Dave Anthony | 01:58, 04:10 | | UK allows US to use military bases; UK base in Cyprus hit | Jonathan Savage | 02:49–03:10 | | Jesse Jackson memorial | Chris Foster | 03:27 | | NC trooper killed in wrong-way accident | Dave Anthony | 04:10 |

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Summary

This FOX News Hourly Update delivers a concise yet thorough snapshot of “Operation Epic Fury” and its far-reaching consequences: strategic military strikes on Iran, retaliation and regional volatility, involvement (and restraint) from US allies, global economic instability, and humanitarian impact. The episode captures the urgency and gravity of current events while noting stories of national mourning, all delivered in FOX’s signature brisk, direct style.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

This is a FOX News alert. An update from the Pentagon. I'm Dave Anthony.

[Pete Hegseth]

The mission of Operation Epic Fury is laser focused. Destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their navy and other security infrastructure and they will never have nuclear weapons.

[Dave Anthony]

War Secretary Pete Hegseth on day three of the US And Israeli attacks to

[Pete Hegseth]

the media outlets and political left screaming endless wars stop. This is not Iraq. This is not endless.

[Dave Anthony]

And as Iran fights back, the secretary

[Pete Hegseth]

adds war is hell and always will be. A grateful nation honors the four Americans we have lost thus far and those injured.

[Dave Anthony]

The military's Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Dan Kane just said additional US Forces are being deployed and this mission is going to take some time and in some cases will be difficult and gritty work. We expect to take additional losses. Iran's supreme leader has been killed among the 500 plus deaths in Iran. And Fox's Stephanie Bennett reports hundreds of

[Stephanie Bennett]

targets in Iran have already been hit. Nine of the country's ships have been destroyed and the entire military command has gone. In retaliation, Iran has targeted neighboring Gulf states. This morning, smoke was seen rising from the vicinity of the US Embassy in Kuwait while the US Military said three US Fighter jets crashed due to an apparent friendly fire incident. All crew members ejected safely.

[Dave Anthony]

The State Department has a worldwide caution alert for Americans everywhere. Many U.S. embassies in the Middle east either evacuated or with a shelter in place.

[Chris Foster]

Order.

[Dave Anthony]

Israel has been under counterattack on two fronts. Hezbollah launching rockets from Lebanon prompting a deadly Israeli retaliation as Iran also keeps firing.

[Trey Youngston]

New incoming ballistic missile fire hitting Israel today in the southern city of beersheva. At least 10 people were wounded and taken to a local hospital when one of those Iranian missiles slipped past air defense systems Foxes.

[Dave Anthony]

Trey Youngston, Tel Aviv leave At least nine Israelis have been died in the Iranian attacks. Oil prices are surging. Stock market sell off looms.

[Fox News Announcer]

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[Dave Anthony]

While the US and Israel keep attacking Iran, which keeps fighting back, an ally not taking part, Britain is now allowing the US to use their bases.

[Jonathan Savage]

With Iran attacking multiple Gulf nations, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has agreed to allow the United States military to operate from British facilities. This, he says, is why to prevent

[Unnamed UK Official]

Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk and hitting countries that have not been

[Jonathan Savage]

involved, the US Will use UK Bases to launch raids on Iranian missile sites. Shortly after this announcement, an Iranian drone hit a UK military base in Cyprus. No one was hurt. Around 300,000 British citizens live in the Gulf region. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

They are paying tribute to a civil rights leader in the south, the late Reverend Jesse Jackson. His coffin being moved this hour in a prison recession taken to a state capitol now.

[Chris Foster]

Flags fly at half staff in South Carolina until sundown. People are invited to pay their respects at the state capitol in Columbia before a public memorial service at a Baptist church. Jesse Jackson grew up 100 miles away in Greenville. Class president and star quarterback at a segregated high school, he came home from college in 1960 for a protest that led to the desegregation of city libraries. Jackson died Feb. 17. The South Carolina services are part of two weeks of events. He'll be back in Chicago for a celebration of life at a megachurch and a funeral service at the headquarters of his Rainbow Push nonprofit organization. Chris Foster, FOX News In North Carolina,

[Dave Anthony]

a state trooper is being mourned the day after Stephen Perry was killed on a highway in Durham by a driver going the wrong way. That driver also died in the crash. Back to that looming stock market sell off. Dow futures are down more than 500 points ahead of the opening bell this hour. Oil is surging up almost 8%, gold's up 3%, and it's all affecting air travel, especially in the Middle East. More than half the 2,300 flights canceled today are two or three from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I'm Dave Anthony. This is FOX News.

[Fox News Announcer]

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