Top Photo: B-52 Refueling during combat flight supporting Operations Epic Fury on March 26, 2026. CENTCOM Facebook.
Update Summary of Operation Epic Fury (March 30 to April 3, 2026)
Executive Summary
President Trump was briefed by the U.S. military on a complex and daring plan to insert ground forces into Iran to remove Iran’s nuclear material. The president briefed the nation on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, on the Iran War – providing clarification on objectives, lauding the U.S. military for its successful attacks on Iranian military and targets, and disparaging NATO allies for not assisting in securing the Strait of Hormuz. More U.S. aircraft are deploying to theater, including A-10s assigned to counter-drone missions. Another aircraft carrier is en route to the Middle East after departing the U.S. East Coast. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) has arrived in CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR), the 11th MEU is en route. The Europeans are meeting to come up with a solution to the conflict.
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory.
Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War, 6th Century BC
Click here for a larger physiography map of Iran that opens in a new tab.
Key Developments
- The Strait of Hormuz continues to shape global strategy and economy
- U.S. and Israel continue air strikes against Iranian military infrastructure
- Power outages and medical supply shortages are a future humanitarian issue in Iran
- Iran is responding to air strikes with cyber, information warfare, and economic leverage
- The conflict may be entering an operational transition phase characterized by reduced Iranian strike volume but expanded regional risk
- President Trump said the air strikes by the U.S. will continue until US objectives are “fully achieved”; probably for the “next two to three weeks”
- Iran claims it downed a U.S. aircraft early on 3 April 2026. Crash debris, if not fabricated, indicates a USAF F-15E Strike Eagle (2 man crew); Iran has spread false info on downed aircraft throughout the past 30 days
Operational Overview
The U.S. and Israel are continuing air strikes, especially Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) units, facilities, and leadership. Aircraft conducting the strikes include F-35 and F-22 platforms, supplemented by Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs). The U.S. is stepping up its maritime presence in the region. Iran continues to launch missile and drone attacks; many are intercepted, although some continue to penetrate regional defenses. The cost ratio favors Iran – cheap drones vs. expensive air defense weapons. Iranian cyber attacks are continuing in the region and around the world.
The Lebanon militant group, Hezbollah, claims it launched several missile salvos for a total of over 70 attacks targeting northern Israel and Israeli positions in southern Lebanon. The Houthis launched a number of ballistic missiles targeting southern Israel on April 1, 2026. This was the 4th attack since entering the conflict on March 28th. Kuwait reported a lot of Iranian strikes over the past 24 hours to include power and water desalination facilities. 90% of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination.
Pentagon and CENTCOM Briefings.
U.S. Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of Central Command, provided an update on Operation Epic Fury on March 31, 2026. DVIDS, 3 minutes.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1001313/centcom-commander-provides-update-operation-epic-fury
SecDef Hegseth and AF General Dan Caine conducted press conference at the Pentagon on March 31, 2026. DoD, 36 minutes.
https://www.war.gov/Multimedia/Videos/videoid/1001319/
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Photo: An Air Force F-16 takes flight in the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 2, 2026. (photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force)
Force Posture and Regional Activities
More A-10s to ME. The New York Times reported that the U.S. Air Force is sending 18 additional A-10s to the Middle East to augment the 12 that are already there. The A-10s will likely have a counter-drone mission as well as its traditional missions. Social media accounts say that 12 A-10C’s from the 107th Fighter Squadron of the Michigan Air National Guard arrived at RAF Lakenheath on March 30, 2026.
Two new EA-37B “Compass Call II” electronic warfare jets that arrived in the UK a few days ago are now en route to the CENTCOM area. The USAF is deploying EA-37B Compass Call aircraft to the Middle East to support operations against Iran – potentially in support of any ground component. The EA-37B is a wide-area airborne electronic attack system designed to deny, degrade, and disrupt adversary communications, radar, navigation, and information networks, effectively jamming communications, early warning radars, and navigation systems during combat operations.
The United Kingdom is deploying its Sky Sabre air defense system to Saudi Arabia as part of a broader regional defensive effort. This is the British Army’s medium-range ground-based air defense system that has been operational since 2020. Italy has joined Spain in limiting U.S. use of airfields in Italy and overflight rights if the aircraft are associated with the Iran War.
U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bombers fully-loaded with 20 GBU-31, 2,000lb JDAMS are operating out of RAF Fairford, England for strikes against Iran.
Another Carrier Enroute to ME. The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) has sailed from Norfolk, Virginia toward the Middle East. It will replace the USS Gerald R. Ford which was damaged in fire that started in a laundry room while conducting combat operations in Epic Fury. The Ford was undergoing repair work from the fire with stops in Greece and Croatia. It is now back at sea and “poised for full mission tasking”.
Bunkers for U.S. Bases. The United States is playing catch up to the ‘drone war’. It is now scrambling to find quick solutions to ‘harden’ its bases in the Persian Gulf region to prevent successful attacks by Iranian drones and missiles. “Bunkers for U.S. Bases in Middle East Now a Top Priority for Pentagon”, The War Zone, March 31, 2026.
Spain Closes Airspace to U.S. Planes. Spain announced on Monday, March 30, 2026, that it has closed its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in the Iran War. It had previously barred U.S. forces from using jointly operated military bases (Rota and Moron) in Spain.
Trump on European Partners. On Wednesday, President Trump threatened to stop supplying weapons to Ukraine unless Europe joins in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Western Shipping. A French vessel, the CMA CGM Kribi sailing under a Maltese flag, transited along the Iranian coast, went through the Strait of Hormuz, and emerged near Oman, marking the first passage by a Western European-linked vessel since the war disrupted shipping. Currently almost 2,000 ships are stranded in the Persian Gulf, while vessels affiliated with Iran, China, India, and Pakistan have been able to transit.
Damaged US AN/TPY-2 Radar. A new satellite image confirms that an expensive U.S. radar was damaged at a Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The radar was struck on March 1st and is a crucial piece of equipment for the US THAAD missile interception system. The radar is estimated to cost between $300 to $500 million per unit. (CNN, 2 Apr 2026)
The Numbers. One social media report says that Iran has launched over 1,725 missiles and 4,446 drones since the Iran War started.
Iranian leader writes Open Letter to US. The letter was addressed to “the people of the United States of America” on Wednesday and published it on the social media platform X. “Iranian president leaves door open to diplomacy in open letter to US”, The Hill, April 1, 2026.
Combat Patches. U.S. Soldiers in “approved” countries in or near the war zone may be eligible to wear a combat patch on their right sleeve, the countries are in either U.S. Central Command and Africa Command. A memo was signed on March 26th. (Task & Purpose, 30 Mar 2026)
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Map: U.S. strikes Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025 in Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Photos by DoD, map by OpenStreetMaps.
Operations on Nuclear Sites
President Trump is contemplating a ground operation that would secure or remove Iranian nuclear material. There are about 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium in Iran that would need to be removed. The operation would involve flying in excavation equipment and building a runway for cargo planes to take the radioactive material out. Trump had asked for a plan weeks earlier. The operation would take weeks if not months and would introduce significant operational risk to the U.S. military force.
The International Atomic Energy Agency states that Iran has stockpiled about 970 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent; just short of weapons-grade level. More than half of the material is stored in a nuclear facility outside Isfahan in central Iran, in tunnels more than 300 feet deep. The rest is located at the Natanz nuclear site; and possibly in other locations as well. Read more in “Risky commando plan to seize Iran’s uranium came at Trump’s request”, The Washington Post, April 1, 2026. (subscription)
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Map by Wikipedia, Image by NASA.
Commentary, Analysis, and Opinion
Seizure of Kharq Island? Bad Idea? One option that President Trump has to force the Iranians to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and give up its nuclear material program is taking control of an island in the Persian Gulf. Kharq Island is where approximately 85-90% of Iran’s crude oil exports transit through Kharq Island terminals. Holding Kharq Island could force Iran to concede on the gulf as well as force them to meet other U.S. demands.
Kharq Island, although very strategic, is small. The U.S. air and naval forces in the region will certainly be able to defeat Iranian conventional forces on or near the island and also fend off any conventional counterattacks. What is worrisome are the drones and missiles that Iran could launch against a U.S. occupied Kharq Island.
The forces available for a forcible entry include the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and elements of the 82nd Airborne Division. The 31st and 82nd are already in the CENTCOM AOR. The 11th MEU is reportedly on the way. A Marine Expeditionary Unit has about 2,200 personnel assigned. Seizure of Kharq Island is likely feasible at the tactical level but presents significant operational sustainment challenges. If Iran does not capitulate, then the U.S. is in for a long stay until the economic conditions worsen sufficiently for Iran to give in.
However, that comes at a strategic cost. Continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz which will wreak havoc with the global economy. In addition, the Houthis of Yemen could jump into the fray, closing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa – through which 10-12 percent of the world’s oil travels on the way to market. “The Folly of Seizing Kharq Island”, by Bilal Y. Saab, War on the Rocks, April 1, 2026.
Counter-Industrial Targeting. Iran has thousands of small drones that are launched from hundreds of launch sites. Although the U.S. and Israel have air superiority (or supremacy) it is a target-dense operating environment; meaning that the ‘coalition’ is unlikely to run out of targets. This is especially true when drones that cost $25,000 can be mass-produced and fielded. So while it is important to hit the launch sites, it is equally important – if not more- to hit the facilities where the missiles and drones are manufactured. Read more in “The Arsenal as the Battlefield: The War on Iran and the Return of Counter-Industrial Targeting”, War on the Rocks, April 1, 2026.
Supply Chain Disruption. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted the global economy. This may soon be compounded with the entrance of the Houthis of Yemen into the conflict on the side of Iran. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which lies between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, sees nearly 15 percent of all global maritime trade pass through its waters. Between the two straits, supplies of oil, gas, fertilizer, and other products are facing critical shortages. “One Month In: Economic Imbroglio and Supply Chain Disintegration”, Intelbrief, The Soufan Center, March 31, 2026.
Oil Prices Jump, Stocks Sink. In the President’s speech on Wednesday night, 1 April 2026, Trump did not articulate when or if the U.S. would attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This had a negative economic effect on economic factors. “Oil prices jump after Trump demands others ‘take the lead’ on Strait of Hormuz”, by Ellen Francis and Victoria Craw, The Washington Post, April 2, 2026. (subscription)
Reference: BCA’s Iran Conflict Daily Dashboard. Real-time charts on the Hormuz crisis, energy, and macro risk. https://www.bcaresearch.com/collection/bcas-iran-conflict-daily-dashboard
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References
Operation Epic Fury Daily Timeline (National Security Info)
https://www.national-security.info/events/epic-fury/timeline-epic-fury.html
Past Articles by SOF News on Operation Epic Fury
https://sof.news/tag/epic-fury/
Past Articles by SOF News on Iran
https://sof.news/tag/iran
Operation Epic Fury – U.S. Central Command Updates
https://www.centcom.mil/OPERATIONS-AND-EXERCISES/EPIC-FURY/
ISW Daily Iran Update. The Institute for the Study of War provides a daily summary of the events taking place in the Iran War. https://understandingwar.org/analysis/middle-east/
Interactive Map: U.S. and Israeli Strikes on Iran, by the Institute for the Study of War and Critical Threats.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/089bc1a2fe684405a67d67f13bd31324
Interactive Map: Maritime Attacks. The Washington Institute map includes detailed descriptions of attacks and incidents, data on each vessel, and geopolitical analysis in the Middle East region from 2017.
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/menamaritime/
Iran Country Profile by National-Security.Info. Maps, reports, and references.
https://www.national-security.info/country/iran.html
