Operation Epic Fury: US details first 48 hours of military action against Iranian targets
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has released a situational overview of the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury, a major US-led military campaign against Iran and affiliated forces.
Dubbed the largest military operation in years, the US forces, alongside allied partners, launched a series of coordinated strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure and strategic capabilities. These attacks are part of an effort to reduce threats posed by ballistic missiles, drones, aircraft, and other assets.
The operation, which commenced on February 28, 2026, at the direction of the President of the United States, included targets of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.
CENTCOM’s statement underscores a high tempo of operations, noting that more than 1,250 targets in Iran had been struck in the opening 48 hours — a figure indicating widespread action across multiple regions within the country.
Among the targets, eleven Iranian ships have been destroyed. The command said that two days earlier, the Iranian regime had maintained 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, but that none remained operational there at present. In a post on X, released alongside an unclassified video of a strike, CENTCOM added that Iran had harassed and attacked international shipping in the Gulf of Oman for decades.
CENTCOM further reported that, at the start of Operation Epic Fury, US forces had struck an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette off the coast of the Gulf of Oman near the port of Chah Bahar, and that the vessel was currently sinking at a pier there.
The first hours of the operation included precision munitions launched from air, land, and sea. Additionally, CENTCOM’s Task Force Scorpion Strike employed low-cost one-way attack drones for the first time in combat. To remind, the LUCAS drone was tested from an Independence-class littoral combat ship (LCS) at sea for the first time in December 2025.
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During the first 48 hours of Operation Epic Fury, the United States deployed a wide range of air, naval and missile defense assets. These included B-1 bombers and B-2 stealth bombers, as well as LUCAS drones, Patriot interceptor missile systems, and THAAD anti-ballistic missile systems.
Fighter aircraft involved in the operation included F-15, F-16, F-18, and F-22 jets, as well as F-35 stealth fighters and A-10 attack jets. Electronic and surveillance capabilities were provided by EA-18G electronic attack aircraft and airborne early warning and control aircraft.
Additional support assets included airborne communication relay platforms, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and MQ-9 Reapers. The operation also featured M-142 high mobility artillery rocket systems, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers and counter-drone systems.
Refueling tanker aircraft and refueling ships ensured sustained operational reach, while C-17 Globemaster and C-130 cargo aircraft supported logistics and transport. US officials further indicated that additional special capabilities were employed but not publicly disclosed.
CENTCOM’s area of responsibility (AOR) includes the Middle East (including Egypt in Africa), Central Asia and parts of South Asia. As of August 2025, CENTCOM’s commander is Admiral Brad Cooper, US Navy.
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The post Operation Epic Fury: US details first 48 hours of military action against Iranian targets appeared first on Naval Today.