Arabian Sea – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) fired Tomahawk land attack missiles on March 1, 2026, in support of Operation Epic Fury, a massive U.S. military campaign against Iran ordered by President Donald Trump. Coordinated with Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion, this joint offensive stands as one of the largest U.S.-Israeli military actions in history.

The strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, missile production facilities, IRGC command centers, air defenses, drone launch sites, military airfields, and senior regime leadership. Over 100 aircraft—including F-35C Lightning IIs, F/A-18 Super Hornets, and B-2 Spirit stealth bombers—supported the assault, along with Tomahawk missiles from destroyers like USS Thomas Hudner and USS Spruance. Cyber and space operations disrupted Iranian communications to amplify the attack’s effect.

The campaign resulted in the confirmed death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other senior officials. Iran retaliated with more than 170 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones targeting U.S. bases and allies, many intercepted by U.S. defenses.

Operations continued into March 2, with B-2 bombers striking ballistic missile sites using 2,000-pound guided bombs. U.S. forces reported four killed, five seriously wounded, and additional minor injuries, all from Iran’s counterattacks. President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described the campaign as essential to neutralize Iran’s missile and nuclear threats, emphasizing precision air and missile strikes with no ground invasion. Israel contributed over 1,200 munitions on the first day, while lawmakers praised the operation as a decisive strike against longstanding regional threats.

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