Israeli strikes (28 February 2026)

The strikes set the clock that every American casualty figure runs on. By 23 September 2026 the Pentagon had added Captain Bianca Wilkerson to its published toll, taking it to 19 dead. Five days later The Intercept put the official tally of dead and wounded at 880, and above 900 once missing names were added.

Of the 880, 436 fell before 7 July 2026, when Operation Epic Fury closed, and 444 after it. In August the Pentagon moved POST-7 July casualties to a separate page of its casualty database headed Overseas Operations, which breaks the series at that date. The operation launched on 28 February therefore accounts for slightly under half the harm counted in its own name.

No signed instrument authorises the campaign these strikes began. On 19 April 2026, day 50, The White House presidential-actions index recorded zero Iran-related signed documents since 28 February. Over the same window the Treasury signed two Russia licences and issued fresh Venezuela designations, so the gap was specific to Iran rather than a pause in paperwork.

Congress has not closed it either. Four Senate war powers attempts failed, the last blocked 47-52 on 15 April, and a House version died 213-214 on 16 April. Senator Lisa Murkowski was drafting a retrospective authorisation whose own text says the president should have sought one before striking. Without a document, the strikes of 28 February remain unreviewable in any court.