Iran Hits US F-35 as Pentagon Launches ‘Epic Fury’ Campaign
- The Pentagon launched Operation Epic Fury, its largest Middle East air campaign since Iraq, with 180 aircraft striking 85 Iranian targets across four countries
- Iran’s air defenses damaged a US F-35 fighter jet during combat operations, marking Tehran’s first successful strike on American forces in the conflict
- Iranian forces coordinated retaliatory strikes on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the UAE within hours of the US assault
The largest American air campaign in the Middle East since the Iraq War began at 2:47 AM local time Friday when 180 US aircraft struck 85 Iranian targets across Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran itself. Within 12 hours, Iran had drawn first blood against US forces.
A US F-35C Lightning II made an emergency landing at an undisclosed base after being damaged by Iranian surface-to-air missiles during strikes on Revolutionary Guard facilities near Isfahan. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained significant damage to its left wing and engine intake.
“This marks the first time Iranian forces have successfully engaged a US aircraft during the current crisis,” CENTCOM confirmed in a statement Friday evening.
The Opening Salvo
Operation Epic Fury began with simultaneous strikes from three carrier battle groups positioned across the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. The USS Gerald R. Ford, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and USS Carl Vinson launched coordinated attacks targeting Iranian missile production facilities, drone manufacturing sites, and Revolutionary Guard command centers.
The Pentagon identified 85 targets spanning four countries. In Syria, US aircraft struck Iranian weapons storage facilities and militia training camps. Iraqi targets included Revolutionary Guard logistics hubs and missile assembly plants. Yemen operations focused on Houthi naval bases and anti-ship missile sites.
The crown jewel was Iran itself. B-2 Spirit bombers flying from Missouri struck the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran, home to Iran’s ballistic missile research program. F-22 Raptors based in Qatar targeted Revolutionary Guard naval facilities at Bandar Abbas.
Initial battle damage assessments suggested 67 of 85 targets were destroyed or severely damaged, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The operation represented the Pentagon’s most ambitious Middle East campaign since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Iran’s Counter-Strike
Iran’s retaliation came faster than US intelligence anticipated. At 3:15 PM local time, Iranian forces launched coordinated strikes on energy infrastructure across the Gulf.
The Ras Tanura oil terminal in Saudi Arabia, which processes 1.2 million barrels daily, suffered direct hits from Iranian cruise missiles. The facility was evacuated, but initial damage assessments suggested at least two storage tanks were destroyed.
In the UAE, the Jebel Ali oil terminal near Dubai reported explosions consistent with drone strikes. The facility handles 400,000 barrels daily for regional distribution.
The energy strikes coincided with Iran’s successful engagement of the F-35. The aircraft was conducting close air support for special operations forces targeting a Revolutionary Guard communications facility when it was struck by what Pentagon officials described as “multiple surface-to-air missiles.”
Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani called the F-35 hit proof that “American technology is not invincible” in a televised address Friday night.
The 48-Hour Calculation
The first day established the conflict’s parameters. Iran demonstrated it could strike US forces and Gulf energy infrastructure simultaneously. The Pentagon proved it could conduct complex, multi-theater operations against Iranian assets.
Oil futures spiked 12% in after-hours trading as markets processed the energy infrastructure attacks. Brent crude hit $94 per barrel, its highest level since October 2022.
The F-35 returned to base. The symbolic damage didn’t.
