WASHINGTON / TEL AVIV — April 25, 2026 : The United States Air Force and the Israeli Air Force are preparing to initiate sustained joint deployments of strategic bombers and armed unmanned aerial systems over missile infrastructure operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force, as part of preparations for the second phase of Operation Epic Fury. The deployment is designed to establish a continuous operational presence over key missile sites, with a focus on targeting mobile ballistic missile launchers and entrances to underground tunnel networks.
According to officials familiar with the planning, the primary objective of the upcoming phase is to prevent further missile launches toward Israeli territory by neutralizing launch capabilities before they can be activated. The approach reflects a shift toward persistent aerial surveillance and rapid strike capability, enabling coalition forces to engage transporter erector launchers (TELs) and access points to subterranean storage complexes immediately upon detection.
Phase One Operational Data Drives Tactical Shift
The revised operational concept follows an extensive review of intelligence and combat data from the first phase of Operation Epic Fury, which began on February 28, 2026, alongside Israel’s parallel campaign, Operation Roaring Lion. During the initial 38 to 39 days of operations, U.S. and Israeli forces conducted more than 10,200 sorties and struck over 13,000 targets across Iran.
Target sets included more than 1,500 air defense systems, over 450 ballistic missile storage facilities, and more than 800 one-way attack drone storage sites. Approximately 80 to 85 percent of Iran’s integrated air defense network was destroyed, along with substantial portions of its missile production infrastructure and solid rocket motor manufacturing capability. In addition, more than 50 Iranian naval vessels were destroyed or rendered inoperable, and over 2,000 command-and-control nodes were degraded.
Despite these outcomes, coalition forces were required to intercept a large volume of retaliatory strikes. U.S. and allied air and missile defense systems intercepted more than 700 ballistic missiles and over 1,000 incoming drones. Broader operational data indicates that Iran launched approximately 1,357 ballistic missiles and 3,200 one-way attack drones during the initial phase, targeting Israeli territory, U.S. military installations in the Gulf, and infrastructure in several Gulf Cooperation Council states. Some of these ballistic missiles were equipped with cluster warheads intended to complicate interception.
While interception rates remained high, military planners assessed that sustained reliance on mid-flight interception posed logistical and operational constraints. The data analysis led to a strategic adjustment emphasizing pre-launch disruption rather than reactive defense.
Persistent Overhead Operations and Targeting Strategy
With Iran’s air defense coverage significantly reduced, U.S. and Israeli aircraft are expected to operate over Iranian airspace with comparatively lower risk in the second phase. Strategic bombers and long-endurance drones will maintain continuous patrols over known IRGC Aerospace Force complexes, including facilities in Lorestan, Kermanshah, Hormozgan, Tehran Province, and other regions.
These sites include deeply buried “missile cities,” consisting of tunnel networks embedded in mountainous terrain and connected by internal transport systems. Facilities such as the Imam Hossein missile complex near Yazd, the Bid Ganeh site in Tehran Province, and the Chamran base near Bushehr have previously been targeted in surface strikes. However, assessments indicate that while external infrastructure sustained damage, many underground components remain operational.
Under the Phase Two concept, coalition forces intend to strike reinforced tunnel entrances to restrict access to stored missile inventories. By targeting these entry points and engaging mobile launchers as they attempt to deploy, planners aim to prevent missiles from reaching firing positions. This approach is intended to physically contain remaining stockpiles within underground facilities and limit the IRGC’s ability to conduct further launches.
Data from the first phase indicates that approximately 330 out of an estimated 470 Iranian ballistic missile launchers were destroyed or rendered inoperable. The remaining systems are believed to be either mobile or housed within hardened underground structures, contributing to their survivability during earlier strikes.
Impact of Initial Campaign on Iranian Capabilities
Operational assessments indicate that the first phase of the campaign resulted in a significant reduction in Iran’s offensive output. Ballistic missile launch activity declined by approximately 86 to 90 percent compared to initial strike levels, while one-way attack drone launches decreased by between 73 and 95 percent.
The degradation of air defenses and command infrastructure has enabled increased freedom of operation for coalition aircraft. At the same time, the persistence of underground missile infrastructure and mobile launch platforms has necessitated the transition to continuous surveillance and rapid engagement tactics.
Ceasefire Context and Transition to Phase Two
The preparations for Phase Two follow a temporary two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. While diplomatic engagement remains ongoing, defense officials indicate that operational planning has continued, with a focus on consolidating gains from the first phase and addressing remaining threats.
No official start date for the second phase of Operation Epic Fury has been publicly confirmed. However, the planned deployment of persistent bomber and drone patrols suggests that U.S. and Israeli forces are positioning to expand operations aimed at further degrading the IRGC Aerospace Force’s missile capabilities and limiting its capacity for retaliatory strikes.
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