Quick Read
- Four B-2 Spirit stealth bombers struck Iranian targets in early March 2026.
- The bombers reportedly targeted underground ballistic missile sites as part of “Operation Epic Fury.”
- The mission was part of a larger US-Israel operation against Iran, which included a decapitation strike on Iranian leadership.
- B-2s previously deployed in June 2025 for “Operation Midnight Hammer” against Iranian nuclear facilities.
- US officials and open-source intelligence confirmed the B-2s’ involvement in the recent strikes.
WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – Four B-2 Spirit stealth bombers reportedly participated in a major US-Israel joint military operation against Iran in early March 2026, targeting critical underground ballistic missile sites. The deployment of these highly advanced, low-observable aircraft underscores their unique capability for deep-penetration strikes against heavily fortified targets, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.
B-2 Spirit’s Role in “Operation Epic Fury”
The recent deployment, part of what some analysts have dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” involved four B-2A Spirit stealth bombers conducting a round trip from the continental United States (CONUS) to Iranian targets. Radio communications monitored on air traffic control (ATC) frequencies reportedly confirmed the bombers’ return journey, with the PETRO41 flight callsign initially associated with tankers, possibly as a measure to mask the bombers’ identity, according to The Aviationist.
These long-range missions were supported by a fleet of KC-46 tankers, with some staged at Lajes Air Base in the Azores. An unnamed U.S. defense official confirmed to Fox News journalist Jennifer Griffin that the four B-2s “dropped dozens of 2,000 lb bombs on underground ballistic missile sites in Iran.” Given the nature of the targets, experts suggest the B-2s likely deployed GBU-31(V)3/B Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), a variant of the 2,000 lb BLU-109/B bunker buster bomb designed for penetrating hardened structures.
Strategic Deployment and Escalation with Iran
The B-2 bomber strikes were part of a broader, highly concentrated military campaign that saw the US military carry out nearly 900 individual strikes on at least 500 Iranian targets within a 12-hour window. This operation included a devastating strike on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s compound, which reportedly killed Khamenei and several senior Iranian leaders, as detailed by WIONews. The daytime assault achieved total surprise, catching the Iranian leadership off guard.
Following these initial strikes, Iran responded with a massive barrage of ballistic missiles aimed at US allies and bases across the Middle East, including the UAE, Israel, Qatar, and Bahrain. In response, US President Donald Trump issued a stern ultimatum on Truth Social, warning Iran of unprecedented force if they continued to retaliate, according to WIONews.
Echoes of “Operation Midnight Hammer”
The latest B-2 deployment echoes a similar operation in June 2025, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” where B-2s were the centerpiece of a massive US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. During that mission, B-2s flew from Missouri to deliver 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker-buster bombs on deeply buried sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, as reported by Ynetnews and WIONews. That earlier operation was described by President Trump as a “spectacular military success” that “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear facilities.
While the June 2025 operation specifically required the B-2 for its GBU-57 MOP delivery capability, the March 2026 strikes utilized 2,000 lb munitions, suggesting different target requirements. Both deployments highlight the B-2’s unique ability to execute long-range, stealthy, and precision strikes against heavily defended and subterranean targets, a capability unmatched by other aircraft in the US arsenal.
The consistent reliance on the B-2 Spirit for these high-stakes, deep-penetration missions against Iran’s most fortified assets underscores the aircraft’s indispensable role in the US strategic military doctrine, particularly for operations requiring stealth and significant destructive power against hardened targets.