U.S. Forces Strike Iran’s First Drone Carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri During Operation Epic Fury

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that U.S. forces struck the Iranian drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri in the Persian Gulf within hours of launching Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026.

The vessel reportedly sustained critical damage and is said to be sinking.

The strike is one of the first major naval actions under the new U.S.-led campaign against Iranian military infrastructure. It has increased tensions in one of the world’s most important shipping routes.

In an official statement, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said the Shahid Bagheri was the only carrier hit in the first phase of the operation. It denied Iranian state media claims that a U.S. aircraft carrier had been sunk.

CENTCOM said no American carrier was struck and no U.S. naval losses were reported.

On social media, it stated that “the only carrier that has been hit is the Shahid Bagheri, an Iranian drone carrier,” and added that U.S. forces struck the ship within hours of launching Operation Epic Fury.

Later, CENTCOM said U.S. forces had sunk 11 Iranian naval vessels in the Gulf of Oman. It stated that the action was intended to counter long-standing threats to international shipping in the region and to safeguard freedom of maritime navigation.

So far, the status of the Shahid Bagheri has not been independently verified.

Video Credits: Prime Post

Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026, involving coordinated strikes by U.S. and partner forces against Iranian military assets.

Targets reportedly include:

• Command centers
• Missile launch sites
• Air defense systems
• Naval facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

The campaign has expanded military activity in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, two waterways that are vital for global oil shipments and container trade.

The IRIS Shahid Bagheri (C110-4) was operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN). It was Iran’s first dedicated drone carrier and functioned as a sea-based platform for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations.

The ship was originally a commercial containership named Perarin. Between 2022 and 2024, it was converted at the Iran Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Complex near Bandar Abbas. It officially joined IRGCN service on February 6, 2025.

After the conversion, the vessel looked like a small aircraft carrier. It was equipped to operate Shahed-series drones and helicopters such as the Bell 412.

The ship reportedly carried Noor anti-ship missiles and Kowsar surface-to-air missiles for defense against sea and air threats.

It was named after IRGC commander Bahman Bagheri, who was killed during the Iran–Iraq War. The vessel was built to help Iran deploy drones farther from its coastline.

References: thedefensenews, naval news