A new episode of military tension in the Middle East has emerged after reports that United States forces struck key Iranian Navy ships during the early phases of a military operation known as “Operation Epic Fury”.
According to information attributed to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), an Iranian vessel used as a drone carrier, the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, was reportedly hit and sunk during the initial strikes.
The ship, which entered service in February 2025, had been converted from a merchant vessel and was considered a strategic platform for Iranian Navy drone operations. According to early reports, after the impact the vessel caught fire at sea, indicating severe damage.
Another Iranian ship was also hit
In addition to the Shahid Bagheri, another important vessel of the Iranian fleet was also reportedly struck. The IRIS Makran, a former commercial vessel converted into an expeditionary mobile base, suffered damage during attacks against naval facilities in the port city of Bandar Abbas, one of the main bases of the Iranian Navy.
Makran had been used as a logistics and support platform for long-range naval operations, including missions involving drones, helicopters, and fast boats.
Military escalation in the Persian Gulf
The attacks are part of what military sources describe as the initial phases of a broader campaign against Iranian naval assets. The operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, is believed to aim at neutralizing maritime and drone capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.
So far, Iranian authorities have not released a full official assessment of the damage or any possible casualties.
The situation remains developing, and more information is expected to emerge in the coming hours as additional details about the operation are released.
U.S. forces aren’t holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy. @CENTCOM pic.twitter.com/BubnfdJIi5
— saibadetudo.com.br (@saibadetudo25) March 6, 2026
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Source and images: X @CENTCOM | Wikimedia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
