Military skies over the Middle East darkened as three US B-1 bombers soared from America to rain destruction on Iran. The late February 2026 launch of Operation Epic Fury by the US-Israel partnership unleashed a torrent of aerial assaults, missile volleys, and naval barrages against Iran’s fortified defenses.
Spotters in the open-source community, led by the 30-strong Military Air Tracking Alliance, decoded flight logs revealing the bombers’ epic, uninterrupted voyages to hit deep Iranian targets like ballistic missile vaults and bunkers.
An official spoke to Axios, affirming strikes on ‘Iranian ballistic missile and command-and-control sites.’ The B-1B Lancer’s prowess—stealth flight, heavy ordnance up to 75,000 pounds—positions it as the ultimate bunker-buster for underground threats.
Day one’s blitz, per US Central Command, neutralized over 1,000 objectives, shredding missile infrastructure and command structures. Iran’s drone and missile fury backfired, fatally wounding four US troops.
Global ramifications unfold: surging crude prices, rattled equities, urgent UN sessions. The B-1 missions exemplify power projection, yet Iran’s resilience portends prolonged strife. Leaders urge ceasefires, but momentum builds toward wider conflict.