WASHINGTON – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has released footage showing missile launches and fighter jet takeoffs as part of strikes aimed at dismantling Iran’s security apparatus, amid a joint military offensive with Israel. The escalating conflict has already resulted in casualties on both sides.
According to the U.S. Military, more than 1250 targets within Iran have been struck in the first 48 hours of the war. These include command and control centers, ballistic missile facilities, Iranian naval vessels and submarines, and anti-ship missile sites, as detailed in a CENTCOM fact sheet. The initial 24 hours of the conflict saw over 1000 locations targeted.
The released images from CENTCOM depict munitions impacting a variety of targets, ranging from drones to buildings, as part of what the Pentagon has officially termed “Operation Epic Fury.”
The military campaign followed an unprecedented deployment of U.S. Forces to the Middle East. In the weeks leading up to the attacks, the Trump administration concentrated the region’s largest combat force in decades, including strategic assets and cutting-edge weaponry.
On Sunday, CENTCOM detailed the weaponry utilized in the early days of the war, including long-range stealth bombers and missile defense systems deployed to intercept retaliatory attacks from Iran.
Among the most significant platforms are the B-2 stealth bombers, considered the most powerful combat aircraft in the U.S. Air Force. Costing over $1 billion per unit, these flying wing aircraft can carry both conventional and nuclear weaponry and are capable of aerial refueling for intercontinental missions.
Operated by two-person crews, the B-2s typically take off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. In this instance, CENTCOM stated they were used to deliver 1000-kilogram bombs against Iranian ballistic missile facilities.
The operation also marked the first combat use by the U.S. Of Lucas unidirectional drones, deployed by Task Force Scorpion Strike. These low-cost attack drones are based on the Iranian-made Shahed-136 model, which has been widely used by Russia in the war in Ukraine.
At sea, two U.S. Aircraft carriers – the USS Abraham Lincoln, deployed in the Arabian Sea, and the USS Gerald R. Ford, positioned in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Israel – participated in the initial operations. F/A-18 and F-35 fighters operated from the Lincoln, whereas guided-missile destroyers fired Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets within Iran.
Several Arleigh Burke-class destroyers stationed in the region can carry up to 96 Tomahawk missiles each and are equipped with the Aegis missile defense system, designed to protect naval strike groups and land-based facilities from ballistic attacks.
Patriot missile batteries and THAAD (Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense) systems were also deployed to intercept drones and missiles launched by Iran in response. While the number of interceptors used has not been disclosed, analysts warn that reserves could be strained if Tehran maintains its attacks over an extended period.
The operation also involved a wide range of combat aircraft, including F-16, F/A-18, F-22, and F-35 fighters, as well as A-10 attack aircraft. Specialized platforms like the EA-18G Growler, designed for electronic warfare, were also utilized to disrupt enemy radars and communication systems.
For battlefield coordination, the U.S. Deployed airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft, such as the E-3 Sentry of the Air Force and the E-2 Hawkeye of the Navy, capable of detecting enemy aircraft and ships at distances of up to 400 kilometers and transmitting real-time information to command centers and naval units.
EA-11 BACN aircraft, known as the “Wi-Fi in the sky,” were also observed in the region, enabling tactical communications between air and ground forces, overcoming geographical obstacles or long distances.
Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance tasks were carried out by aircraft like the P-8A Poseidon and the RC-135, while MQ-9 Reaper drones were used to strike high-value targets with Hellfire missiles and guided bombs.
On land, M-142 HIMARS high mobility artillery rocket systems participated in precision strikes with a “shoot and scoot” capability, allowing for rapid repositioning after launching munitions with a range of over 248 miles.
The complex operation was supported by a logistics network including KC-135 and KC-46 aerial refueling tankers, as well as supply ships that enabled warships to remain in continuous operation at sea.
Strategic airlift was provided by C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, which moved troops and ammunition to the Middle East in the days leading up to the attacks, completing a military deployment that underscores the scale of the ongoing U.S. Offensive.
Agencies AP and AFP
