Arabian Sea – The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) deployed F/A-18F Super Hornets on February 28, 2026, as part of Operation Epic Fury, a major U.S. military campaign against Iran ordered by President Donald Trump. Coordinated with Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion, the operation is among the largest joint U.S.-Israeli military offensives in history.

Strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile production sites, IRGC command centers, air defenses, drone launch locations, military airfields, and senior regime leadership. Over 100 aircraft—including F-35Cs, F/A-18s, and B-2 Spirit stealth bombers—supported the assault, complemented by Tomahawk cruise missiles from destroyers such as USS Spruance. Cyber and space operations disrupted Iranian communications to maximize impact.

The campaign resulted in the confirmed death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other high-ranking officials. Iran responded with over 170 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones aimed at U.S. bases and allies, though many were intercepted by U.S. defenses.

Operations continued into March 2, including B-2 strikes on ballistic missile sites using 2,000-pound guided bombs. Four U.S. service members were killed, five seriously wounded, and others sustained minor injuries from Iranian counterattacks. President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called the operation essential to neutralize Iran’s missile and nuclear threats, stressing precision air and missile strikes with no ground invasion. Israel confirmed more than 1,200 munitions were used on the first day, while U.S. lawmakers praised the campaign as a decisive strike against longstanding threats.

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