U.S. Central Command confirmed on March 1, 2026, that American forces struck over 1,000 targets inside Iran during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury. Reports indicate 48 high-ranking Iranian officials were killed in the initial waves of strikes.
The operation began at 1:15 a.m. ET on February 28, 2026, under direct orders from President Donald Trump. U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated attacks to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus. CENTCOM prioritized sites posing imminent threats, including:
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command and control centers
- Air defense systems and ballistic missile launch sites
- Drone facilities, military airfields, and naval assets
Strikes hit the IRGC headquarters and the headquarters of its Aerospace Forces. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped 2,000-pound guided bombs on hardened underground ballistic missile facilities.
Echipamentele utilizate au inclus:
- Navy ships firing Tomahawk missiles
- F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, F-22 Raptors, F-16 Falcons, F/A-18 Super Hornets, and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs
- EA-18G Growlers for electronic warfare and MQ-9 Reaper drones
- Army PAC-3 interceptors, THAAD systems, HIMARS rocket systems, and counter-drone units
In the first 24 hours, forces destroyed an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette at Chabahar Port in the Gulf of Oman, leaving it sinking at the pier. CENTCOM reported strikes on Iranian navy submarines and confirmed the sinking of additional vessels. President Trump stated nine Iranian warships were sunk, with the naval headquarters largely destroyed. CENTCOM did not independently verify the exact warship count but confirmed ongoing naval targeting.
The initial waves eliminated key regime figures. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in strikes on his office and a central leadership compound in Tehran. Dozens of senior officials perished in the same coordinated hits, with reports specifying 48 high-ranking leaders killed overall. These included:
- IRGC commanders
- Intelligence ministry officials
- Other top security personnel
- Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (reported killed in Tehran strikes)
CENTCOM described the action as
“cutting off the head of the snake,”
noting the IRGC had killed over 1,000 Americans in the past 47 years through proxy attacks and direct actions. The strikes removed the IRGC headquarters and degraded command structures.
Iran retaliated immediately. Missile and drone attacks targeted U.S. bases in Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. An Iranian strike on Camp Arifjan in Kuwait killed three U.S. service members and seriously wounded five others. Several more sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions. CENTCOM reported these as the first American casualties, with information current as of 9:30 a.m. ET on March 1. President Trump acknowledged more casualties were likely.
Iran launched further volleys at Israel, prompting Israeli counterstrikes. Hezbollah exchanged fire with Israel across the border. Vessel traffic in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz dropped by at least 33 percent due to the fighting.
The operation involved all U.S. military branches: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Two carrier strike groups, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford, supported from the Gulf of Oman and Eastern Mediterranean. The USS Abraham Lincoln launched aircraft despite Iranian claims of hits, which CENTCOM called false.
CENTCOM released videos showing strikes on Iranian aircraft, drone hangars, missile sites, and naval targets. Officials stated the campaign destroyed approximately half of Iran’s missile stockpiles and blocked production of at least 1,500 additional missiles.
President Trump described the operation as ahead of schedule. He offered to talk with Iran’s new leadership while vowing to continue until objectives were met, including preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called it
“the most lethal and precise aerial operation in history, aimed at destroying missile production, the navy, and threats to Americans.”
Humanitarian and Regional Impact
Iranian state media reported 555 deaths across the country from U.S. and Israeli strikes by March 1, with hundreds injured. The Red Crescent provided initial figures of 201 killed and 747 injured on the first day.
The strikes targeted regime change by dismantling security and military capabilities built over decades. Iran’s nuclear program, missile arsenal, and proxy networks faced direct degradation. U.S. forces maintained superiority in air and sea domains.
CENTCOM confirmed strikes would continue without interruption.
The U.S. military action decisively removed 48 high-ranking Iranian officials and hit 1,000 targets to end decades of regime aggression against American interests.
