US ATACMS Missile Strike Destroys Iranian Zolfaghar Ballistic Missile and Sayyad-2 Air Defense System.

U.S. forces launched a long-range ATACMS ballistic missile from an M142 HIMARS system, destroying what appears to be an Iranian Zolfaghar short-range ballistic missile and elements of a Sayyad-2 air defense missile system. The strike, confirmed through U.S. Central Command footage released February 28, 2026, signals the operational use of U.S. Army deep-strike assets in Operation Epic Fury, directly targeting Tehran’s mobile missile deterrent.

U.S. Central Command released a video on February 28, 2026, showing a long-range precision strike carried out with an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) launched from an M142 HIMARS, destroying what analysts identify as an Iranian Zolfaghar short-range ballistic missile and components of a Sayyad-2 air defense missile system. The footage, analyzed by Army Recognition, confirms the combat employment of U.S. Army deep-strike assets in Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S. and Israeli campaign aimed at degrading Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and missile forces. The apparent targeting of both a mobile ballistic missile and its associated air defense coverage highlights a coordinated effort to suppress Tehran’s layered deterrent network and reduce its capacity for retaliatory launches.
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U.S. M142 HIMARS launches an ATACMS long-range tactical missile (left). Army Recognition strike analysis (right) identifies the destruction of what appears to be an Iranian Zolfaghar short-range ballistic missile and components of a Sayyad-2 air defense system during Operation Epic Fury. (Picture source: U.S. Central Command edited with Army Recognition comment)

The strike marks a significant escalation in the use of U.S. Army land-based precision fires against Iran’s strategic enablers. Operation Epic Fury is designed to systematically degrade Tehran’s capacity to conduct ballistic missile attacks and shield sensitive sites under a layered air defense umbrella. By targeting both a road-mobile missile asset and its associated air defense coverage, U.S. forces demonstrated an integrated approach focused on simultaneously eliminating strike capability and protective systems.

Imagery from the released footage indicates that the primary target was consistent with a Zolfaghar short-range ballistic missile system, likely mounted on a transporter-erector-launcher. The Zolfaghar, a development of the Fateh-110 family, is a solid-fueled, road-mobile ballistic missile with an estimated range of approximately 700 km and a payload capacity of approximately 500 kg. Equipped with terminal guidance improvements over earlier variants, it is designed to conduct precision strikes against regional military bases, logistics hubs, and strategic infrastructure. Its mobility enables rapid dispersal and concealment, making it a core component of Iran’s conventional deterrence doctrine.

Neutralizing a Zolfaghar asset before launch has direct operational implications. Road-mobile ballistic missiles are among the most survivable elements of Iran’s arsenal, specifically engineered to complicate detection and preemptive targeting. Successfully striking such a system indicates effective intelligence fusion, likely combining satellite surveillance, airborne ISR platforms, and joint targeting coordination between U.S. and Israeli forces. This level of targeting precision reduces Iran’s immediate retaliatory options and disrupts planned strike cycles.

The strike also appears to have eliminated elements of the Sayyad-2 surface-to-air defense missile system positioned near the missile asset. The Sayyad-2, integrated into platforms such as the Talash air defense system, provides medium-to-long-range engagement capability against aircraft and cruise missiles, with reported ranges of 75 to 120 kilometers, depending on configuration. These systems form part of Iran’s layered air defense network protecting high-value strategic assets, including missile units and nuclear facilities. Destroying both the ballistic missile and its defensive shield reduces local air defense density and opens corridors for potential follow-on operations.

The ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) variant employed was likely a unitary high-explosive model, such as the M57 or M57E1, capable of delivering a 225 kg (500-pound-class) warhead at ranges up to 300 km. Guided by a combined inertial navigation and GPS, ATACMS achieves high precision against fixed and relocatable targets. When launched from the M142 HIMARS platform, the system provides rapid deployment and shoot-and-scoot survivability. Mounted on a wheeled FMTV 6x6 chassis, HIMARS can quickly reposition after firing, minimizing exposure to counter-battery fire or retaliatory missile strikes.

Operationally, the use of ground-launched ballistic missiles rather than manned aircraft signals a deliberate risk mitigation strategy. Employing ATACMS enables deep strikes within contested airspace without exposing pilots to Iranian integrated air defense threats. This approach aligns with the U.S. Army’s Multi-Domain Operations doctrine, which emphasizes long-range precision fires as a central pillar of joint force access, lethality, and deterrence. HIMARS-based fires provide strategic-level effects traditionally associated with airpower, reinforcing the Army’s expanding role in theater-level strike missions.

The joint U.S.-Israeli framework of Operation Epic Fury underscores deep operational coordination in countering Iran’s missile and nuclear programs. Israel has historically prioritized neutralizing Iran’s strategic strike capabilities, while the United States contributes advanced long-range fires, intelligence integration, and broader deterrence backing. The destruction of Zolfaghar missile assets suggests that the campaign is focused on systematically dismantling Iran’s ability to threaten regional bases, allied territories, and critical infrastructure within its missile engagement envelope.

From an industrial and strategic perspective, the strike demonstrates the continued combat relevance of ATACMS as the U.S. transitions toward the next-generation Precision Strike Missile, which is expected to extend engagement ranges beyond 500 kilometers. The operation highlights that current U.S. Army missile inventories remain capable of producing decisive operational and strategic effects in high-intensity scenarios.

As Operation Epic Fury progresses, additional strikes targeting missile launchers, storage depots, radar installations, and nuclear support infrastructure remain plausible. The confirmed use of HIMARS-launched ATACMS indicates that U.S. land-based precision-strike systems are playing a central role in shaping the battlespace, degrading Iran’s retaliatory capacity, and reinforcing the allied deterrence posture across the region.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.