United States and Israel Wage War on Iran, Take Europe by Surprise

News.az describes a rapid, region-wide crisis after an expanding US–Israeli campaign against Iran called "Operation Epic Fury" swept across the Gulf, Iraq, Lebanon and beyond.

“The war between the United States, Israel and Iran has entered its seventh day, marking one of the most dangerous escalations in the Middle East in decades”

News.az

According to the same reporting, US and Israeli officials present the operation as a sustained joint effort targeting Iranian missile launchers, air defenses, command centers and naval assets.

News.az

Israeli statements claim roughly 2,500 strikes and the destruction of up to 80% of Iran's air defenses.

US Central Command reports about 200 targets hit in the past 72 hours.

Israel asserts it has achieved near-complete air superiority over Iran.

News.az notes independent verification of those claims is limited, and Iranian officials dispute Israel's assertions.

News.az cites estimates of more than 1,230 people killed inside Iran, including military personnel, officials and civilians, and confirms that casualties have been reported in Israel and other affected countries, warning that civilian deaths could rise if the fighting continues.

The article foregrounds the human cost alongside military claims, indicating the operation’s strikes and retaliatory attacks are already producing significant loss of life and raising alarms about further civilian harm.

News.az

News.az reports that Iran has mounted coordinated ballistic-missile and drone retaliatory strikes against Israel and US positions across the region.

“The war between the United States, Israel and Iran has entered its seventh day, marking one of the most dangerous escalations in the Middle East in decades”

News.az

At the same time, US officials tell News.az they have observed sharp declines in Iranian launch rates — ballistic launches down about 90% and drone attacks down about 80% — which Washington interprets as evidence that the joint campaign is degrading Iranian missile and drone capabilities.

News.az says Iran is confronting a major leadership crisis after the reported death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with succession—potentially involving his son Mojtaba—described as contested domestically and inflamed by former President Trump's public pronouncements opposing certain successors.

The article also conveys Tehran's warning that a US ground invasion remains possible while noting Washington has not confirmed any ground invasion plans and that, to date, most operations have been aerial and naval.

News.az

The News.az article raises, but does not answer in detail, the question implied by the headline about Europe being taken by surprise.

“The war between the United States, Israel and Iran has entered its seventh day, marking one of the most dangerous escalations in the Middle East in decades”

News.az

It notes the regional crisis and asks about diplomatic talks but does not provide specifics on European governments' reactions or on diplomatic initiatives.

News.az

Therefore, based solely on the provided source, the extent to which the United States and Israel 'took Europe by surprise' is unclear and not documented in the article.