Iran conflict 2026: A-10 and AH-64 aircraft conducting operations across Iran's southern flank

A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flies over US Central Command's area of responsibility during Operation ‘Epic Fury' on 9 March 2026. (US Central Command Public Affairs)

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine told reporters on 19 March that the A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters have conducted operations in Iran “across the southern flank” of the country.

According to Gen Caine, the A-10 has been employed “hunting and killing fast attack watercraft in the Strait of Hormuz”, while the AH-64 has conducted operations on the southern flank alongside allies who are also using AH-64s to engage one-way attack drones.

Gen Caine added, “In Iraq, AH-64s have been striking against Iranian-aligned militia groups to make sure that we suppress any threat in Iraq against US forces or US interests.”

Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told reporters that US armed forces have to date “struck over 7,000 targets across Iran and its military infrastructure”, adding, “We damaged or sunk over 120 of their navy ships with battle damage assessment pending for many more.”

Gen Caine added that US armed forces “continue to hunt and kill mine storage facilities and ammunition depots”, as well as 44 minelayers and one-way attack garrisons in the east of the country.

On 17 March, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that US armed forces employed multiple 5,000-pound GBU-72 GPS-guided deep penetrator munitions on Iranian missile sites located along its coastline near the Strait of Hormuz.

“These weapons are bespokely designed to get through concrete and/or rocks and function after penetrating those barriers,” Gen Caine said during the press conference.