Iran war: What has been hit so far – and the military assets in play
Iran war: What has been hit so far – and the military assets in play
The United States and Israel have intensified their attacks on Iran, entering their fourth consecutive day of strikes that resulted in the death of its supreme leader.
Operation and strike locations
Operation Epic Fury commenced on Saturday, with the US launching a series of strikes that led to the demise of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his Tehran residence. Zoom in to explore strike locations through interactive satellite imagery.
Israeli contribution and munitions used
Israel intensified the assault, eliminating numerous Iranian military leaders through over 100 aerial strikes across three days. “Preliminary analysis shows that the United States and Israel used a variety of precision guided munitions to strike Iran,” Nic Jenzen Jones, director at Armament Research Services (ARES), said in a
blockquote>. “These included air-delivered JSOWs, Blue Sparrow-series ballistic missiles, and bombs of varying weights such as 500-, 1,000-, and 2,000-pound classes.”
Surface-to-surface missiles, such as the Tomahawk series launched from maritime platforms and the PrSm land-based system, were also utilized.
Iran’s retaliation and targets
Iran has escalated its response, deploying drones and missiles against Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, and Qatar. The U.S. confirmed the loss of six personnel, while a drone strike targeted an RAF base in Cyprus, underscoring Iran’s capabilities.
The Sajjil, Iran’s longest-range missile, has a maximum reach of up to 2,000 kilometers, as noted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Though this range extends to Moscow or Athens, it still falls short of enabling Iran to strike the UK.
Strategic bases and aircraft movements
Sky News’ Data and Forensics team has charted US and UK air bases across the Middle East and Europe, highlighting their potential for operations against Iran. Flight data reveals the routes of 47 U.S. military cargo and refueling aircraft over recent days, with at least 15 passing through British facilities like Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Diego Garcia has remained in the spotlight, particularly following Donald Trump’s criticism of the UK’s plan to transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The ongoing conflict has underscored the strategic significance of the joint U.S.-UK base, with Sir Keir Starmer initially opposing its use for targeting Tehran.
Satellite images from Sunday morning depict at least 14 aircraft stationed near the runway, including six F-16s and two P-8 Poseidon spy planes, according to Jane’s Defence Weekly analysts. The remaining aircraft include transport models such as the C-5 Galaxy and three KC-135 Stratotankers, though the UK operates only the P-8 Poseidon among these.
Base activity and damage assessment
U.S. air bases in Germany have seen a notable decrease in aircraft, with 246 planes departing compared to 161 arriving since February 23, marking an overall reduction of 52. Al Udeid in Qatar has also experienced a significant exodus of aircraft, with 20 more departing than arriving, positioning it as a likely target for Iranian retaliation.
Meanwhile, aircraft have been gathering at bases in Kuwait, Israel, and Jordan, indicating a strategic shift in operational positioning.
The aftermath of strikes is evident in satellite images of two Iranian naval bases, revealing fires at Bandar Abbas, the Navy’s primary headquarters overseeing the Strait of Hormuz. A burning vessel, the Makran, is visible in the imagery, representing one of six Iranian ships tracked by Sky News via TankerTrackers, stationed near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
