Operation Epic Fury: A Just War?

On the morning of February 28, 2026, President Trump approved the launch of Operation Epic Fury. Air strikes from U.S. and Israeli fighter jets began to pummel Iranian government and military sites. Negotiations with Iran to suspend its nuclear weapons ambitions have been ongoing for months with no significant progress. This was the justification for the attack. Is there a concept of a “just war,” and if so, does this qualify? Let’s take a look.

What Defines a Just War?

The Catholic Church has defined criteria for a “just war” in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2309:

 2309 The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:

• The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain.
• All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to

 be impractical or ineffective.

• There must be serious prospects of success.
• The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine.

The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.

Does Operation Epic Fury Meet the Qualifications?

When we examine the criteria the Catholic Church has defined and contrast it against the actions that have occurred:

• The aggressor must inflict lasting, grave, and certain damage:
  • U.S. officials stated the operation responded to attacks on U.S. personnel and assets in the region.
  • Public briefings described the threat as ongoing and tied to Iran‑backed militias.
  • Reports indicated missile and drone attacks had occurred before the operation.
  • There were also questions about Iran’s nuclear capability. According to U.S. envoy Witkoff, Iranian officials told their U.S. counterparts during the Geneva talks that Iran had enough enriched uranium to build 11 nuclear bombs.
  • Iran reportedly had murdered thousands of its own citizens protesting the government.
• Only those responsible for the common good may authorize war:
  • The President ordered the strikes, and U.S. Central Command executed the operation.
• The aim must be peace, protection of the innocent, and restoration of order, not revenge:
  • Official statements framed the operation as defensive, intended to degrade capabilities used to attack U.S. forces.
  • The administration stated the goal was to prevent further attacks, not escalate conflict.
• We must exhaust every peaceful alternative:
  • Diplomats issued warnings before the strikes.
  • Reports indicated that previous non‑military measures had not stopped attacks.
• The action must have a realistic chance of achieving its protective goals:
  • Military analysts reported that the targets were command‑and‑control nodes, air defenses, and launch sites.
  • Officials stated the strikes were designed to reduce the enemy’s ability to conduct attacks.
  • Early reporting suggested the strikes successfully hit intended targets.
• The harm caused must not exceed the harm prevented:
  • Officials stated the operation used precision strikes to limit collateral damage.
  • Authorities reported military targets were struck, including airfields and missile sites.

Civilian Impact

• Noncombatants must never be targeted:
  • U.S. statements emphasized precision targeting of military infrastructure.
  • Initial reports did not indicate intentional targeting of civilians. • Full civilian impact remained unclear in early reporting.

The Catholic View

Jesus would affirm the Church’s desire to restrain evil and protect the innocent, but He would also confront any attempt to use Just War theory to soften, sidestep, or dilute His radical commands: love of enemies, peacemaking, mercy, and non-retaliation. His voice would sharpen the moral burden, not relax it.

Jesus teachings about non-violence can at times contrast with the government’s propensity to use violence as a means of settling disputes. In this case, the U.S. and Israel intend to eradicate the Iranian leadership and eliminate their military capability (including the ability to create a nuclear weapon).

Iran has been the primary sponsor of terrorism and has a long history of violently quashing protests. Their many acts of evil and refusal to negotiate in good faith to avoid a war left little choice but to use military force. While this may qualify as a “just war,” it clearly was preventable. While civilians aren’t targets, there have been civilian deaths resulting from the war. A missile strike accidentally hit a girls’ school in Iran on February 28, 2026. Iran accused the United States, and the U.S. responded that an Iranian missile misfired. The blast killed about 170 young girls ages 7–12. The school stood next to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) site.

Please share your thoughts about this article in the “Comments” section.

Peace

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