Iran conflict 2026: US forces now focused on Iranian long-range strike capabilities

An E/A-18G Growler aircraft, attached to Electronic Attack Squadron 142, launches from USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) in support of Operation ‘Epic Fury' on 1 March. (US Navy)

US military leaders have detailed the opening phases of Operation ‘Epic Fury' to strike Iranian forces, which they said was ongoing and shifting towards targeting Iran's long-range missile systems.

On 28 February, at 0945 h local Tehran time, US President Donald Trump ordered Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), to attack Iran.

For the operation, the Pentagon deployed “thousands of service members from all branches, hundreds of advanced fourth and fifth-generation [fighter aircraft], dozens of refuelling tankers, the Lincoln and Ford carrier strike group and their embarked air wings, sustained flow of munitions, fuel, supplies, all supported with command-and-control, [and] intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance networks”, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine told reporters on 2 March.

“The flow of forces continues” to CENTCOM, Gen Caine said. “Adm Cooper will receive additional forces even today,” particularly tactical aircraft.

US forces are now “hyper focused” on targeting Iran's “long-range strike capabilities”, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during the same briefing.

Gen Caine and Hegseth suggested Iran retains some long-range missile launching capabilities, but declined to quantify it.

“It'll take some time for us to conduct battle damage assessment [BDA], and the targeting cycle that CENTCOM will run will take those things into effect,” Gen Caine said. “Adm Cooper will adjust his plan and fires accordingly … He's focused on long-range strike capability coming out of the enemy, and that's a key and essential part of it. That still exists from the enemy front.”