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‘Operation Epic Fury’ in the Middle East explained

By WTOP Staff
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President Donald Trump confirmed in an 8-minute Truth Social video that the U.S. took part in a “major combat operation” in Iran that has since been named “Operation Epic Fury” by the Pentagon.

The military operation, which comes after recent nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran proved unsuccessful, saw some of its first strikes against Iran strike near the offices of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has issued remarks, warning that Iran “will not hesitate” with its response. Counterattacks have been reported across the Middle East, with reports indicating airstrike in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

Iranian media has reported that at least 40 people were killed at a girls’ school in southern Iran, and that another 45 individuals were injured in Iran’s Hormozgan.

WTOP national security correspondent J.J. Green joined Ian Crawford earlier to discuss why the airstrikes happened, what the public can expect, and what may be the American cost.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

NYPD says dozens rescued from human trafficking during World Cup

By WTOP Staff
▶ Watch Video: Inside look at security preparations for World Cup Forty-three people, including seven minors, were rescued from human traffickers during the World Cup matches in the New York City area, according to the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit.The rescue operations were carried out between June 11 and July 19 by specialized NYPD detectives who arrested 89 individuals."The surprise was really the outpouring of support behind the mission and the collaboration with all our partners," said Inspector Gary Marcus, commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit.Those rescued, largely the victims of sex trafficking, are now being supported with an array of social services for the victims, including food, housing and counseling.The 87 operations carried out during the World Cup have generated new leads, officials said, and law enforcement agencies are building more cases based on the investigations already underway."We have ongoing investigations now as a result of these operations," an NYPD official told CBS News.Major sporting events are known to law enforcement as hotbeds of human trafficking.Years in advance, the NYPD devoted significant resources to preparing for the World Cup. Eight matches were played at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, including the final on Sunday."When we talk about the outreach and the prep we do, a large part of that involved visiting the known sex offenders, particularly the known human traffickers, in our registry," Marcus said. "Whether they're on parole or probation for human trafficking, we visited them to make sure they're compliant with the terms of their release, and secondly, to let them know that the NYPD is watching."The matches were held in multiple cities around the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Preparations to secure those games and prepare for crimes like human trafficking were coordinated between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.Police departments in many locations that hosted World Cup matches have made arrests and rescues connected to human trafficking, including in Georgia, New England and Missouri. Nationally, there were more than 673 arrests on human-trafficking charges made during the World Cup, and 61 adults and 13 minors rescued, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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