Operation 'Lion's Roar' To 'Epic Fury': UPSC Current Affairs

Q: What is Operation ‘Roaring Lion’?

Operation Roaring Lion is the codename for a major, coordinated military offensive launched by Israel (in conjunction with the US's "Operation Epic Fury") against Iran on February 28, 2026. It marks a dramatic transition from years of covert "shadow warfare" to a full-scale direct kinetic conflict aimed at neutralizing Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure.

Description

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Picture Courtesy: DOWNTOEARTH

Context

Regional conflict following Israel's Operation Roaring Lion and the US's Operation Epic Fury, aimed at neutralizing Iran's leadership and nuclear infrastructure.

What is the Background of the Conflict?

The core of the tension revolves around Iran's nuclear program, its regional influence, and the security doctrines of regional and global powers.

Stalled Nuclear Diplomacy: The JCPOA

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) of 2015 aimed to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
The U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018, leading to its gradual collapse.
Efforts to revive the deal have stalled due to disagreements over sanctions, uranium enrichment rights, and the scope of the agreement.

Iran's Nuclear Advancement

Iran has exceeded the JCPOA's limits on uranium enrichment.
According to reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity.
This level is a short technical step from the 90% purity required for weapons-grade material, reducing Iran's potential "breakout time" to produce a nuclear weapon. (Source: IAEA)

Israel's Security Doctrine

Israel perceives a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat.
It maintains a policy of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, including through pre-emptive military and covert actions.

Recent Military Operation

Operation Name	Actor	Narrative and Strategic Goal
"Lion's Roar"	Israel	Frames the action as a decisive act of self-defense against an existential threat, evoking national strength and resilience.
"Epic Fury"	United States	Signals a large-scale, intense operation aimed at significantly degrading enemy capabilities, not just a limited strike.
"True Promise"	Iran	Positions its response as a justified and inevitable retaliation for aggression, portraying its actions as defensive.

Source: DOWNTOEARTH

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA):

1. It was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 countries (China, France, Russia, UK, US + Germany).

2. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is responsible for verifying Iran's compliance with the deal.

3. The deal exclusively addresses Iran's nuclear enrichment activities and does not cover its ballistic missile program.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is Correct: The JCPOA was reached in July 2015. The P5+1 refers to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, UK, and US) plus Germany, along with the European Union.

Statement 2 is Correct: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the designated global watchdog tasked with monitoring and verifying that Iran adheres to the technical nuclear restrictions (such as centrifuge limits and stockpile caps) laid out in the agreement.

Statement 3 is Correct: The JCPOA was specifically designed to restrict Iran’s nuclear capabilities (enrichment levels, heavy water reactors, etc.) in exchange for sanctions relief. It did not include restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile program or its regional influence, which was a primary reason for the US withdrawal from the deal in 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The central issue is Iran's nuclear program. Israel perceives a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat to its existence and has stated it will take any action necessary to prevent it. Iran maintains its program is for peaceful energy purposes.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers (P5+1) that placed verifiable limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Diplomacy to revive the deal stalled after the U.S. withdrew in 2018, with persistent disagreements over the scope of sanctions to be lifted and the nuclear restrictions Iran must re-adopt.

Operation Roaring Lion is the codename for a major, coordinated military offensive launched by Israel (in conjunction with the US's "Operation Epic Fury") against Iran on February 28, 2026. It marks a dramatic transition from years of covert "shadow warfare" to a full-scale direct kinetic conflict aimed at neutralizing Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure.