U.S. Conducts 6,000 Combat Sorties Against Iran Since Operation Epic Fury Began.

U.S. Central Command reports that more than 6,000 combat sorties have been flown over Iran since the start of Operation Epic Fury on 28 February 2026. The expanding strike campaign has targeted roughly 6,000 sites and severely degraded Iran’s naval forces, signaling a major escalation in U.S. military pressure.

U.S. Central Command says American forces have conducted more than 6,000 combat sorties over Iran since Operation Epic Fury began at 01:15 on 28 February 2026 under presidential authorization. The campaign targets sites assessed to pose an immediate threat and has already struck roughly 6,000 locations across the country. According to CENTCOM’s 12 March operational update, the strikes have also damaged or destroyed more than 90 Iranian naval vessels, including over 60 ships and more than 30 minelayers. The operation represents one of the largest sustained U.S. air campaigns in the region in decades and appears focused on weakening Iran’s maritime capabilities and military infrastructure.
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A U.S. Air Force F-16 departs on a mission in the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 2, 2026. (Picture source: US DoD)

Since the start of the operation, U.S. forces have targeted a wide range of installations including command and control centers, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters buildings, intelligence sites, integrated air defense systems, ballistic missile facilities, anti-ship missile launch sites, naval vessels, military communication nodes, drone and missile production plants, weapons manufacturing infrastructure, surface-to-air missile installations, and maritime mine warfare assets.

During the briefing, Admiral Cooper emphasized the scale of the air campaign conducted by U.S. aviators from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps. These forces have collectively flown more than 6,000 combat flights, maintaining persistent pressure on Iranian military capabilities while sustaining air superiority over Iranian airspace. The strikes also included a large-scale precision attack conducted on Kargh Island, which destroyed more than 90 Iranian military targets, including bunkers used for storing naval mines, missiles, and other military infrastructure.

CENTCOM stated that the operation is designed not only to neutralize active weapons systems but also to dismantle the broader defense industrial base supporting Iran’s missile, drone, and naval capabilities. During the briefing, Admiral Cooper presented imagery illustrating the destruction of several facilities linked to Iranian weapons production. These included a naval drone storage site located near the Strait of Hormuz, an attack-drone production facility in Tehran, and the Yazdi Military Depot, a complex associated with the IRGC Missile Command responsible for producing light and heavyweight torpedoes. According to CENTCOM, these strikes are intended to degrade Iran’s capacity to regenerate military capabilities over time.

The air campaign is supported by a large joint force combining strategic bombers, tactical aircraft, reconnaissance platforms, unmanned systems, naval strike assets, missile defense systems, and ground-based fires. Strategic strike missions involve bombers such as the B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52 Stratofortress. The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is designed to penetrate heavily defended airspace while delivering precision-guided munitions against hardened targets, whereas the B-52 Stratofortress provides long-endurance strike capability and can carry more than 30 tons of weapons. The B-1B Lancer contributes with its high-speed, long-range strike profile and ability to carry a large payload of precision-guided bombs.

Aircraft deployed in the campaign include the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-18 strike fighters. Fifth-generation platforms such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II conduct stealth strike and air dominance missions using advanced sensor fusion and low-observable characteristics that allow them to operate in contested airspace. Close air support and precision strike missions are also carried out by the A-10 Thunderbolt II, an aircraft designed specifically for ground attack and equipped with the GAU-8/A 30 mm cannon capable of engaging armored targets with high accuracy.

Naval forces also contribute to the campaign. Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and guided-missile destroyers provide sea-based strike capabilities and support carrier aviation operations. Ground-based strike systems such as the M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) enable precision strikes from land against military infrastructure at ranges exceeding 70 kilometers.

According to CENTCOM data released on 12 March 2026, the campaign has also inflicted major losses on Iran’s naval forces. More than 90 Iranian vessels, including ships and minelayers, have reportedly been damaged or destroyed during the operation. These actions aim to reduce Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping and energy transport routes passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Admiral Cooper also noted that approximately 50,000 U.S. military personnel are currently deployed across the region supporting Operation Epic Fury. The commander highlighted the importance of the logistics network sustaining the operation, emphasizing that the ability to distribute fuel, munitions, and supplies across thousands of kilometers enables the U.S. joint force to maintain continuous high-tempo operations.

The campaign nevertheless faces a complex operational challenge. Iranian forces rely heavily on asymmetric capabilities including armed drones, naval mines, fast attack craft, and dispersed missile launchers that are designed to complicate large-scale conventional military operations. These systems are relatively inexpensive, mobile, and difficult to detect, allowing Iran to threaten maritime traffic and regional bases even under sustained airstrikes.

Neutralizing the full spectrum of these capabilities, particularly those deployed around the Strait of Hormuz, remains a demanding task for U.S. forces. Securing freedom of navigation through this narrow maritime chokepoint is a central objective of Operation Epic Fury, as the strait handles a large share of global energy shipments each day. The operational effort also follows political pressure from Washington to restore stability in the region. U.S. President Donald Trump called on 11 March for decisive action to reopen and secure the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the importance of maintaining uninterrupted international maritime trade and energy flows through the Gulf.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.