Map detailing the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury. DoD, 4 Mar 2026. View larger image.
DoD Press Conference. During a press briefing on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, CJCS General Dan Caine provided an update on Iranian battle damage. He said there has been an 86% overall drop in Iran’s ballistic missile launches since the first day of fighting, and a 23% decrease in just the last 24 hours. There has also been a 73% decrease in Iranian one-way attack drones. (DoD, 4 Mar 2026) The press briefing can be viewed at this link on DVIDS, 33 minutes.
Two More U.S. Casualties Identified. The Department of Defense announced the “believed to be death” of an Army Reserve Soldier who was supporting Operation Epic Fury. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan is believed to have perished at the scene of a UAV attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait on March 1, 2026. He was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa. In addition, Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien of the same unit was identified as a casualty.
Iranian Warship Sunk by Sub. A U.S. Navy fast attack submarine sank an Iranian warship using a Mark 48 torpedo in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka (74km or 40nm). (Associated Press, Mar 4, 2026) The Sri Lanka Navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people. The IRIS Dena had 180 people on board and is believed to be returning from participating in an Indian naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal. The sunk ship was one of Iran’s newest deep water warships that was armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes. As of March 4, 2026, at least 20 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk during the ongoing war. The map below shows Sri Lanka just southeast of India.
Map: The sunk vessel was near the country of Sri Lanka located off the southeast tip of India. (map CIA).
Transition from Standoff to Gravity Bombs. Secretary of Defense Hegseth stated on March 4, 2026, that the U.S. and Israel have complete control of the skies over Iran and that the U.S. will be transitioning from cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles to GPS and laser-guide precision gravity bombs. Defense observers say this is a new phase of the war. “Hegseth, Caine preview major gravity-bombing campaign on Iran”, The Hill, March 4, 2026.
War Powers Resolution. On Wednesday, the Senate rejected a War Powers Resolution intended to limit U.S. participation in the conflict with Iran. The vote was almost entirely along party lines with one Republican (Sen. Paul) voting in favor and one Democratic (Sen. Fetterman) in opposition.
