Aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 sit on the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury
Aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 sit on the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is currently positioned in the Gulf region
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is currently positioned in the Gulf region
An FA-18E Super Hornet launches from the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln
An FA-18E Super Hornet launches from the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln
Two F-35C Lightning II perform a fly over above the carrier
Two F-35C Lightning IIs perform a flyover above the carrier
US Sailors prepare to load ordnance onto an FA-18F Super Hornet on the flightdeck of the carrier
US sailors prepare to load ordnance onto an FA-18F Super Hornet on the flight deck of the carrier
US sailors prepare to stage ordnance onboard the flight deck
US sailors prepare to stage ordnance on board the flight deck
An E-2D Hawkeye - an airborne early warning and command and control aircraft - performs an arrested landing
An E-2D Hawkeye – an airborne early warning and command and control aircraft – performs an arrested landing
An EA-18G Growler launches from the USS Gerald R Ford
Elsewhere, an EA-18G Growler launches from the USS Gerald R Ford carrier
The electronic warfare aircraft has played a critical role in US military operations and strategic positioning against Iran
The electronic warfare aircraft has played a critical role in US military operations and strategic positioning against Iran
The MH-60S Sea Hawk, used primarily for Anti-Surface Warfare, Combat Support and Humanitarian aid launches from the flight deck
The MH-60S Sea Hawk, used primarily for anti-surface warfare, combat support and humanitarian aid launches from the flight deck
A US pilot assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron conducts pre-flight checks in a FA-18E Super Hornet
A US pilot assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron conducts pre-flight checks in an FA-18E Super Hornet
Before it launches from the flight deck of the USS Gerald R Ford
An FA-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of USS Gerald R Ford
A Tomahawk land attack missile is fired from USS Thomas Hudner
A Tomahawk land attack missile is fired from USS Thomas Hudner
Elsewhere, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance fires a Tomahawk land attack missile
Elsewhere, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance fires a Tomahawk land attack missile
Aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 sit on the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is currently positioned in the Gulf region
An FA-18E Super Hornet launches from the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln
Two F-35C Lightning II perform a fly over above the carrier
US Sailors prepare to load ordnance onto an FA-18F Super Hornet on the flightdeck of the carrier
US sailors prepare to stage ordnance onboard the flight deck
An E-2D Hawkeye - an airborne early warning and command and control aircraft - performs an arrested landing
An EA-18G Growler launches from the USS Gerald R Ford
The electronic warfare aircraft has played a critical role in US military operations and strategic positioning against Iran
The MH-60S Sea Hawk, used primarily for Anti-Surface Warfare, Combat Support and Humanitarian aid launches from the flight deck
A US pilot assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron conducts pre-flight checks in a FA-18E Super Hornet
Before it launches from the flight deck of the USS Gerald R Ford
A Tomahawk land attack missile is fired from USS Thomas Hudner
Elsewhere, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance fires a Tomahawk land attack missile
USA

In pictures: The US military assets which are powering Operation Epic Fury

Joe Hearn
Aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 sit on the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury
Aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 sit on the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is currently positioned in the Gulf region
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is currently positioned in the Gulf region
An FA-18E Super Hornet launches from the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln
An FA-18E Super Hornet launches from the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln
Two F-35C Lightning II perform a fly over above the carrier
Two F-35C Lightning IIs perform a flyover above the carrier
US Sailors prepare to load ordnance onto an FA-18F Super Hornet on the flightdeck of the carrier
US sailors prepare to load ordnance onto an FA-18F Super Hornet on the flight deck of the carrier
US sailors prepare to stage ordnance onboard the flight deck
US sailors prepare to stage ordnance on board the flight deck
An E-2D Hawkeye - an airborne early warning and command and control aircraft - performs an arrested landing
An E-2D Hawkeye – an airborne early warning and command and control aircraft – performs an arrested landing
An EA-18G Growler launches from the USS Gerald R Ford
Elsewhere, an EA-18G Growler launches from the USS Gerald R Ford carrier
The electronic warfare aircraft has played a critical role in US military operations and strategic positioning against Iran
The electronic warfare aircraft has played a critical role in US military operations and strategic positioning against Iran
The MH-60S Sea Hawk, used primarily for Anti-Surface Warfare, Combat Support and Humanitarian aid launches from the flight deck
The MH-60S Sea Hawk, used primarily for anti-surface warfare, combat support and humanitarian aid launches from the flight deck
A US pilot assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron conducts pre-flight checks in a FA-18E Super Hornet
A US pilot assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron conducts pre-flight checks in an FA-18E Super Hornet
Before it launches from the flight deck of the USS Gerald R Ford
An FA-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of USS Gerald R Ford
A Tomahawk land attack missile is fired from USS Thomas Hudner
A Tomahawk land attack missile is fired from USS Thomas Hudner
Elsewhere, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance fires a Tomahawk land attack missile
Elsewhere, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance fires a Tomahawk land attack missile
Aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 sit on the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is currently positioned in the Gulf region
An FA-18E Super Hornet launches from the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln
Two F-35C Lightning II perform a fly over above the carrier
US Sailors prepare to load ordnance onto an FA-18F Super Hornet on the flightdeck of the carrier
US sailors prepare to stage ordnance onboard the flight deck
An E-2D Hawkeye - an airborne early warning and command and control aircraft - performs an arrested landing
An EA-18G Growler launches from the USS Gerald R Ford
The electronic warfare aircraft has played a critical role in US military operations and strategic positioning against Iran
The MH-60S Sea Hawk, used primarily for Anti-Surface Warfare, Combat Support and Humanitarian aid launches from the flight deck
A US pilot assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron conducts pre-flight checks in a FA-18E Super Hornet
Before it launches from the flight deck of the USS Gerald R Ford
A Tomahawk land attack missile is fired from USS Thomas Hudner
Elsewhere, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance fires a Tomahawk land attack missile

On Saturday, 28 February, the US and Israel began a series of joint missile strikes on Iran, as both countries' leaders called for the Iranian people to overthrow the regime. 

The major combat operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, came after weeks of threats by US president Donald Trump that he would order military action if Iran did not agree to a new deal over its nuclear programme.

Posting on his Truth Social account, Mr Trump said: "We will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It's a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon."

'Peace through strength'

Launched in the early hours of 28 February, US Central Command (CENTCOM) commenced Op Epic Fury at the direction of the US president.

One of the 11 unified commands within the US Department of Defence – responsible for directing military operations across the Middle East – said its forces are conducting targeted strikes aimed at dismantling the Iranian regime's security apparatus, prioritising locations that "pose an imminent threat".

The targets reportedly include command and control centres, the joint headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as Iranian naval vessels and submarines.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said the USS Gerald R Ford, currently operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, is "in the fight" and supporting the operation.

Denied claims 

Over the weekend, the IRGC said in a statement carried by state media that it had launched four ballistic missiles toward the USS Abraham Lincoln, the second aircraft carrier deployed to the region.

CENTCOM has denied the claim, stating "the missiles launched didn't even come close", and the carrier continues to launch aircraft as part of its "relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime".

US assets deployed during the operation include the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, F-35 Lightning II fighters, and the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.

Images courtesy of the Defence Visual Information Distribution Service.

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