Operation Epic Fury marks a decisive moment in the Middle East, reflecting a new phase of US-led military coordination, regional alignment, and strategic competition with Iran. The operation’s early successes have reshaped the battlefield—but critical questions remain about its origins, trajectory, and ultimate objectives.
This conference convenes leading experts and policymakers to examine why the conflict began, assess the current state of play, and explore competing theories of victory. Together, these discussions aim to clarify not only how the war is unfolding, but what its outcome will mean for the future of US strategy in the region and beyond.
9:00 a.m. | Opening Remarks
Michael Doran, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, Hudson Institute
9:10 a.m. | Panel I: Why the War Started
Moderator: Michael Doran, Senior Fellow and Director, Hudson Institute
· Can Kasapoğlu, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
· David Albright, Founder and President, Institute for Science and International Security
10:15 a.m. | Panel II: The State of Play
Moderator: Nadav Samin, Fellow, Hudson Institute
· Ray Takeyh, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
· Rebeccah Heinrichs, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
· Can Kasapoğlu, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
11:30 a.m. | Panel III: Theories of Victory
Moderator: Zineb Riboua, Research Fellow, Hudson Institute
· Michael Doran, Senior Fellow and Director, Hudson Institute
· Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President, American Foreign Policy Council
· Mariam Memarsadeghi, Founder, Cyrus Forum for Iran’s Future
12:30 p.m. | Fireside Chat and Keynote Address
Moderator: Michael Doran, Senior Fellow and Director, Hudson Institute
· H.E. Dr. Yechiel (Michael) Leiter, Ambassador of Israel to the United States
Please join Hudson Institute for a fireside chat with Senior Fellow and Keystone Defense Initiative Director Rebeccah Heinrichs and John Spencer, chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point and co-director of the Urban Warfare Project.
Join Hudson Institute and the Ben Franklin Fellowship for a two-panel discussion examining US policy as it confronts the crisis of terror in Nigeria.
Join Hudson Institute's Center for the Economics of the Internet for a keynote address given by Tricia Paoletta on the Trump administration's progress in managing and reallocating the electromagnetic radio frequency spectrum from the federal domain.
Join Hudson Institute for a discussion with Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson and Senior Fellow Harold Furchtgott-Roth.
