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According to the US Central Command, Operation Epic Fury was officially launched at 1:15 AM EST, February 28, 2026. Since the operation began, the air campaign by the US Armed Forces has struck more than 1,000 targets in Iran, including a strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed to strike back despite the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and mounting military losses.
The United States Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have all contributed squadrons and aircraft to the combined force conducting the massive campaign. That includes stealth bombers and fighters, multirole strike fighter, airborne command and control (AWACS), as well as airborn tankers and other specialized platforms.
Overwhelming American Air Dominance
The current concentration of air power in the region is the highest level seen since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Aircraft from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are also supporting the US troops deployed to strike strategic targets in Iran. Multiple local bases in the Middle East and surrounding territories are serving as the main hubs for fighter, attack, and support squadrons.
Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, as well as Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, are two of the key airbases in the region where US aircraft have been deployed. The United Kingdom initially denied the United States access to its overseas bases, but has since granted US aircraft permission to fly out of bases like Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory.
US Navy and Marine F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35C Lightning IIs launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups. USN EA-18G Growlers and USAF E-3 Sentry AWACS provided jamming and battlefield control to blind Iranian radar while providing uninterrupted communications for allied units.
Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM, made this remark in the first press release after the operation began:
“The President ordered bold action, and our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are answering the call.”
An Armada Of Air Power
The CENTCOM press release, which gave a basic outline of forces under Operation Epic Fury included a list of assets deployed as well as a basic description of the action taken in the first 24 hours. Among the highest profile platforms are USAF B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, which flew 40-hour round-trip missions from the US. The crews dropped 2,000-pound precision-guided munitions on hardened ballistic missile installations and underground facilities.
According to the CENTCOM Fact Sheet, these aircraft are participating in the joint force air campaign, at a minimum:
|
US Air Force (USAF) |
US Navy (USN) & Marine Corps (USMC) |
|---|---|
|
Northrop Grumman (NG) B-2A Spirit (Stealth Bomber) |
Boeing (BA) F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (Multirole Fighter) |
|
Lockheed Martin (LM) F-22A Raptor (Stealth Fighter) |
LM F-35C Lightning II (Stealth Fighter) |
|
LM F-35A Lightning II (Stealth Fighter) |
BA EA-18G Growler (Electronic Attack) |
|
General Dynamics F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (Multirole Fighter) |
NG E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AEW&C) |
|
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle (Multirole Fighter) |
BA P-8A Poseidon (Maritime Patrol) |
|
Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II (Attack) |
BA E-6B Mercury (Comm. Relay) |
|
BA E-3G Sentry (AWACS) (AEW&C) |
SpektreWorks LUCAS (One-Way Attack Drone) |
|
BA RC-135V/W Rivet Joint (Reconnaissance) |
BA RC-135V/W Rivet Joint (Reconnaissance) |
|
GA MQ-9A Reaper (Drone) |
LM KC-130J Super Hercules (Tanker) |
|
BA KC-46A Pegasus / KC-135 (Tankers) |
|
|
BA C-17 Globemaster III (Cargo) |
This operation has seen the first expeditionary deployment of F-22 stealth fighters to Israel’s Ovda Air Base. American and Israeli targeting prioritized the destruction of Iranian missile and drone launch sites, command and control centers, naval bases, and nuclear-related facilities.
Grounded: 33 Middle Eastern Jets Are Stranded At 13 North American Airports
Dangerous skies leave flyers nowhere to go.
The Human Price Of Trump’s Attack
Despite the massive and overwhelming destruction of the Iranian military infrastructure, missiles and drones were able to penetrate US defenses and strike back. A US Navy base in Bahrain was struck by missiles, resulting in at least three dead and five wounded. At least a dozen civilian casualties have been recorded as a result of Iranian strikes as well.
Notably, three US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down over Kuwait due to a friendly fire incident. Fortunately, all three pilots and three weapons systems officers (WSOs) who were aboard the jets were recovered in relatively sound health with help from the local community near the crash sites.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports that at least 555 people have been killed since the joint offensive began, according to ABC News. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) provides a higher estimate, stating that at least 742 civilians have been killed, including 176 children.
