For more than a month, the United States military has conducted Operation Epic Fury, a large-scale air and sea campaign that began in February 2026 targeting Iran. U.S. Central Command officials said the operation aims to dismantle Iran’s military infrastructure and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. Central to this effort has been the U.S. Air Force’s advanced bomber fleet.
The operation has included B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, which have conducted strikes on more than 13,000 targets. The B-1 Lancer carries the largest payload of both guided and unguided munitions in the U.S. Air Force. The B-2 Spirit, a stealth bomber, can penetrate defended airspace to strike hardened targets, such as underground ballistic missile facilities. As Iran’s air defenses have been degraded, B-52 Stratofortress bombers have conducted overland missions using precision-guided weapons like the Joint Direct Attack Munition.
The U.S. Department of War has emphasized the surgical nature of these missions, designed to minimize unintended consequences. One such mission involved bombers striking military targets on Kharg Island while taking extensive measures to avoid damaging adjacent crude oil infrastructure. In another, B-2 bombers struck the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters located deep underground with GBU (ground bomber unit)-57 Massive Ordinance Penetrators that can reach subterranean targets. During a news conference in March 2026, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Dan Caine described the use of the more than 2,000 kilogram GBU-72 penetrator weapons against coastal defense cruise missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz as an example of the technology being used. Officials have also highlighted the use of dynamic striking, where pilots are redirected during a flight to new targets based on real-time intelligence.
Underpinning these complex operations is a rigorous training protocol for U.S. aircrews. This multiphased training stresses individual specialty skills, crew teamwork and large-scale unit operations, including simulated combat missions and long-range navigation. A significant component of this training is the instruction on the law of armed conflict, which requires pilots to adhere to the principles of distinction between military and civilian targets and proportionality to limit collateral damage. These protocols ensure accuracy and the responsible application of force.