Florida couple talks US operation in Iran: We prayed, waited for 4 decades for something to happen

Operation Epic Fury is mix of grief, hope for Florida Iranian couple

Many Iranian Americans in Central Florida say decades of exile may be nearing a turning point amid escalating conflict in Iran, though families report communication blackouts and fears for loved ones’ safety. U.S. and Israeli officials said Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in the attack, and Donald Trump honored four U.S. service members who also died.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - The United States and Israel launched coordinated weekend strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, triggering an expanding regional conflict.

President Donald Trump said the campaign could last weeks as allies moved to counter Iran’s missile and drone attacks, while Hezbollah exchanged strikes with Israel.

For decades, many Iranian Americans in Central Florida have been unable to return to their homeland. The regime's grip on the country forced many to flee as children, leaving behind lives, homes and relatives.

What they're saying:

FOX 35 talked to a Brevard County man who left Iran at 13. He hasn't been home since.

For him and many others, the current "war zone" status of their homeland is a terrifying, but necessary stage in a fight they believe is long overdue.

"Something that I had waited for, for 47 years, and prayed for, is finally coming to reality," the man's wife told FOX 35.

However, the reality of liberation is fraught with danger. Communication with those inside Iran has become "hit or miss," with families reporting a total blackout on Sunday.

"The instability of—I am going to leave home, and I may be somewhere that might get bombed, and I won't come back," one resident shared, describing the daily fear her family faces.

FOX 35 is not identifying the couple by name because they still have loved ones in Iran and are worried about their safety.

Despite the danger, the couple feels immense gratitude for the decisive military action. 

One of them said they are a registered Democrat and voted for President Trump, believing he would be the leader to conduct some sort of operation in Iran.

"I’m so grateful a registered Democrat has voted for Trump just because I knew he would be the man that would deliver this freedom to our people," they told FOX 35.

Both believe the help and support from both the U.S. and Israel is crucial for Iran's future. 

"I feel like an orphan that we are looking for help," one said. "We are looking for assistance from an outside source because we cannot do this on our own."

They also believe that Iran's future will be a long road ahead. 

"Just cutting the head of the snake is not enough," one man cautioned. "This is a philosophy of this regime. As long as the last person is standing, they will recruit more people to follow their agenda."

Both U.S. and Israeli intelligence have confirmed that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in the attack, along with several other leaders. Four U.S. service members have been killed, and a handful of others have been seriously hurt.

President Donald Trump remembered those killed in a video statement on Sunday.

What's next:

The future of the region remains uncertain as the war erupts and the threat of a wider Middle Eastern conflict looms. While the local American-Iranian community celebrates the potential end of the regime, they are also mourning the human cost of the operation.

The family expressed their sincere condolences to the U.S. military and the families of the three American service members killed in combat during the opening stages of the operation.

As the military efforts continue, this Central Florida family says they will continue to wait for word from their loved ones, hoping the communication blackouts end and that the freedom they’ve prayed for finally takes root.

Why you should care:

The first U.S. military deaths have been reported as casualties mount across Israel and Gulf nations, and Iran says several hundred people have been killed there following strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 

With Khamenei’s death, Iran must choose a new supreme leader for the first time since 1989, as Donald Trump urged Iranians to rise up against the ruling theocracy, though there were no signs of an uprising.

Risks remain from Iranian-backed groups, including Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have threatened renewed attacks on Red Sea shipping and Israel, with further military action and proxy clashes expected.