United States and Israel launch Operation Epic Fury to systematically dismantle Iranian missile production and air defenses

US and Israel escalate Operation Epic Fury as Pete Hegseth warns of a dramatic surge in strikes on Tehran to dismantle Iran's missile production base.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 6:09 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from RTT News

Intensification of Operation Epic Fury

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided a strategic update on the joint United States and Israeli military operation, code named Operation Epic Fury, following a meeting with Admiral Brad Cooper at MacDill Air Force Base. Hegseth declared that the amount of firepower directed at Iran and its capital, Tehran, is set to surge dramatically in the coming days. He emphasized that the United States remains completely committed to its mission objectives and dismissed reports regarding the loss of a U.S. F-15 Eagle fighter jet as false. Residents in Tehran described the most recent wave of strikes as the most severe since the conflict began seven days ago.

Degradation of Iranian Military Infrastructure

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, reported a significant decline in Iranian combat effectiveness, noting that ballistic missile attacks from the regime have decreased by 90 percent. Additionally, Iranian drone operations have dropped by 83 percent over the first week of the war. Cooper revealed that in the hour preceding his Thursday briefing, U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers utilized 2,000 pound penetrator bombs to target deeply buried ballistic missile launchers. Strategic strikes also successfully hit Iran's equivalent of a Space Command center, further degrading the regime's ability to coordinate threats against American assets.

Naval Losses and Industrial Dismantling

The naval theater has seen the destruction of more than 30 Iranian navy ships since Saturday. Most recently, U.S. forces struck an Iranian drone carrier, described as being roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier, which remains on fire. Admiral Cooper stated that under the direction of President Donald Trump, Central Command is now transitioning to a phase focused on the systematic dismantling of Iran's missile industrial base. This strategy aims not only to destroy current stockpiles but to eliminate the regime's capacity to rebuild its missile production capabilities for the future.