TAMPA- The United States is intensifying its air campaign against Iran with expanded bomber strikes and additional fighter deployments. Military leaders say the operation aims to dismantle Iran’s missile infrastructure and weaken its future military capability.
The campaign includes strikes near Tehran and is supported by forward operating bases such as Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. Expanded access to these bases has significantly reduced mission times for US bombers.
More US Bombers Joined the War Against Iran
US Central Command officials confirmed that the air campaign against Iran has entered a more aggressive phase. The strategy now focuses on destroying both active military assets and the infrastructure that allows Iran to rebuild missile capabilities.
Speaking at a 5 PM Eastern Time briefing at US Central Command headquarters, CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper emphasized the broader objective of the operation.
“We’re not just hitting what they have,” Cooper said. “We’re destroying their ability to rebuild.”
He added that the campaign will continue to target Iran’s weapons industry.
“And so as we transition to the next phase of this operation, we will dismantle Iran’s missile production capability for the future,” Cooper said.
During the 72 hours before the briefing, US bombers struck approximately 200 targets across Iran. Several of those strikes occurred shortly before the briefing itself.
B-2 Spirit stealth bombers carried out some of the missions, attacking deeply buried ballistic missile launch sites using dozens of 2,000-pound bunker-busting bombs, believed to be GBU-31 JDAMs.
Other strategic bombers also participated in the campaign. B-1B Lancer and B-52H Stratofortress aircraft conducted additional strikes inside Iran, including targets near Tehran.
According to Air & Space Forces, the intensity of these bomber missions reflects one of the largest coordinated strike waves in the conflict so far.
Forward Bases Enable Faster Strike Operations
Allied basing support has played a key role in expanding US air operations. The United Kingdom approved the use of its facilities at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford.
These bases significantly reduce flight times compared with the long round-trip missions previously flown from the United States.
Shorter flight durations allow bomber aircraft to conduct more frequent sorties and maintain higher operational readiness. The expanded basing network also improves logistics support and mission coordination across the region.
US Strike Damages Iranian Drone Carrier
US forces also struck a large Iranian vessel believed to be used as a drone carrier.
Military officials described the ship as roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier. The vessel caught fire after the strike and sustained heavy damage.
A post shared on social media described the attack and its scale.
“US forces aren’t holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy. Today, an Iranian drone carrier, roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier, was struck and is now on fire.”
Destroying the ship significantly reduces Iran’s ability to launch long-range drone operations across the region.
Missile Launches Drop After Sustained Strikes
The ongoing air campaign appears to have significantly reduced Iran’s missile activity.
Cooper said Iranian ballistic missile launches have dropped by about 90 percent since the opening day of the conflict. Sustained strikes against launch sites and production facilities have likely disrupted Iran’s ability to maintain large-scale missile operations.
However, Iranian officials have issued new threats in response to the campaign.
Tasnim News Agency, a semi-official Iranian media outlet, quoted a source warning that Iran could target countries hosting ground stations or companies providing uplink services for networks broadcasting anti-Iranian content.
The report stated that Iran would take “appropriate action,” signaling the possibility of escalation involving communications infrastructure or space-related targets.
CENTCOM confirmed that US forces also struck facilities connected to Iran’s military space operations. Cooper said these attacks targeted Iran’s equivalent of U.S. Space Command, which “degrades their ability to threaten Americans.”
Iranian Attacks Push Gulf Nations Closer to the US
Iran’s retaliatory strikes have affected several countries across the Gulf region. Missiles and drones have hit targets in 12 different countries, many of which had initially tried to remain neutral in the conflict.
Cooper said the attacks have changed the regional response.
“Those 12 countries are none too happy, and I look forward to working with all the partners who are willing to join us in this,” he said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said Iran’s actions have strengthened security cooperation between the United States and regional partners.
“If anything, what Iran is doing by targeting allied countries that would otherwise want to stay out of this, they’ve actually pulled them into the American orbit,” Hegseth said.
He added that several countries are now openly supporting U.S. operations.
“Now you’ve got UAE and Qatar and Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and others saying, ‘Hey, we’re with you. We’ll shoot with you. We’ll fly with you. We’ll defend with you. We’ll allow you more basing.’”
Many Gulf states operate American-made air defense systems such as Patriot and THAAD, which are being used more frequently to intercept Iranian missiles and drones.
Regional Air Defenses Become Highly Integrated
The expanding coalition has also strengthened regional air defense coordination.
The United Kingdom increased its defensive presence in the region. A Royal Air Force F-35B shot down a drone over Jordan, marking the aircraft’s first operational air-to-air kill.
Other engagements have also been reported. Qatar shot down 2 Iranian Su-24 bombers, while an Israeli F-35 shot down a Yak-130 trainer aircraft.
The Yak-130 interception is significant because it represents the first known air-to-air downing of a crewed aircraft by an F-35 fighter.
Cooper described the expanding network of air defenses as “the most integrated air defense network in Middle East history.”
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