Epic Fury Bombers Complete 18 U.S.-Iran Round-Trip Strikes, Each Over 30 Hours
U.S. military officials confirmed that long-range bomber operations formed a central part of Operation Epic Fury. The campaign included missions flown directly from the United States to targets inside Iran.
Scale and duration of the missions
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed reporters on Wednesday. He said the United States flew 62 bomber sorties during the five-week war.
Eighteen of those missions were round-trip flights originating in the U.S. Each of these flights lasted more than 30 hours. During Epic Fury, U.S. bombers completed 18 U.S.-Iran round-trip strikes, each lasting over 30 hours.
Aircraft and logistics
Caine did not name exact launch points for the round trips. Officials indicated these sorties most likely used B-2 Spirit stealth bombers based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
These B-2 missions would have required in-flight refueling by KC-135 tankers. Other bomber types supported Epic Fury from forward bases in the United Kingdom. Those aircraft included the B-1 Lancer and the B-52 Stratofortress.
Past long-distance strikes
Whiteman-based B-2s conducted similar runs during Operation Midnight Hammer. That June 2025 operation struck Iran’s nuclear sites with very large bunker-buster munitions.
Targets struck and damage assessment
U.S. Central Command reported strikes on more than 13,000 targets in Iran since the conflict began in late February. The tally covered air defenses, missile and attack-drone storage, naval assets, mines, and weapons production facilities.
U.S. officials told reporters that a majority of the targeted facilities were destroyed. The assessment reflected broad damage to Iran’s military infrastructure.
Ceasefire and regional reaction
The United States, Iran, and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday evening. The pause came just before a deadline set by President Donald Trump related to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. World leaders had criticized the administration’s earlier warning to Tehran.
Israel said it conducted strikes inside Iran overnight but then halted further action. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office clarified the ceasefire did not cover hostilities involving Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Gulf states report continued attacks
Several Gulf countries reported Iranian assaults after the ceasefire took effect. The United Arab Emirates said Tehran launched 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones during that period.
Reporting for Filmogaz.com.
