B-2 stealth bombers strike fortified Iranian missile sites in major escalation of Middle East
WEB DESK: In a major escalation of the ongoing Middle East conflict, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on 1 March 2026 that B-2 Spirit stealth bombers conducted precision strikes against high-value missile facilities inside Iran.
The operation, part of “Operation Epic Fury,” targeted what CENTCOM described as “hardened ballistic missile facilities” posing an imminent threat to regional stability and U.S. interests. Four B-2s, armed with 2,000-pound guided bombs (JDAMs), executed round-trip sorties from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, with multiple mid-air refuelings enabling the long-range mission.
CENTCOM emphasized the strategic importance of the strike, aimed at degrading Iran’s capacity for retaliatory missile attacks on neighboring states and U.S. bases in the Gulf. Posting on X, the command stated: “Last night, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran’s hardened ballistic missile facilities. No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve.”
Military analysts note that deploying B-2s, each valued at $2 billion, signals the operation’s priority and the complexity of the targets. The aircraft’s radar-evading capabilities and heavy payload capacity allowed it to penetrate fortified underground “missile cities” that conventional air assets could not reach.
The strikes mark a notable intensification in the U.S. air campaign, which previously relied on F-35s and Tomahawk missiles. While the bombers returned safely to the U.S. diverting to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, due to adverse weather, Iran reportedly retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting locations in Bahrain, Qatar, and Israel, keeping the region on high alert.
About The Author
