Operation “Epic Fury” has entered its fifth day as US and Israeli operations against Iran continue. The situation on the ground remains fluid, and the operation’s scope has gradually grown wider. US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that as of March 2, a total of six US service members have been confirmed dead over the course of the operation, with a press release being quoted saying that “the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members have been recovered from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks on the region”.

US and Israeli strikes have continued to target Iranian ballistic missile launchers, drone launching sites, and other command and control locations. This has resulted in a sharp decrease in Iranian launching capability and strikes. In addition, the first confirmed air-to-air kill by an F-35 was announced by the Israeli Air Force, after an IAF F-35 engaged and destroyed an IRIAF Yak-130 over Tehran.

IRANIAN JET SHOT DOWN: An IAF F-35I “Adir” fighter jet shot down an Iranian Air Force YAK-130 fighter jet.

This is the first shootdown in history of a manned fighter aircraft by an F-35 “Adir” fighter jet.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 4, 2026

US bases across the Middle East region have been continuously under fire since the start of the operation, with further damage being incurred during overwhelming attacks. US and allied air defense have been a majority of the incoming missiles and drones targeting these bases, overwhelming attacks have seen some of these launches get through air defense networks, leading to further damage to facilities along bases across the region. A Qatari AN/FPS-132 ballistic missile warning radar was hit in an attack, incurring significant damage. NSA Bahrain and Al-Salem Airbase in Kuwait incurred further damage following more Iranian strikes from ballistic missiles, but no further casualties have been reported at this time. US embassies in Riyadh, Bahrain and Kuwait City have been under attack by Iranian launches as well, with the State Department urging the evacuation of Americans across the Middle East.

Over Kuwait, a friendly fire incident occurred when a Kuwaiti Air Force F-18 shot down three USAF F-15Es. All six American pilots ejected safely and were recovered by local police and returned to the American force, as per US CENTCOM.

At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident.

Read more:https://t.co/i2y3Q3vo2E
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026

Civilian death tolls continue to rise, with around one thousand deaths reported in Iran at this time, and death tolls rising into the dozens around various Gulf countries. Escalating attacks around Lebanon have seen around a dozen casualties reported, following strikes on an Israeli army facility in Safed. Oil and gas facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere have stopped production due to the threat of missile strikes and drones, and at least traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has become stuck after the IRGC declared the strait was closed on March 3. Chaos has subsequently broken out in international markets as shipping, including oil and gas tankers, has been halted on their journeys as the IRGC has begun targeting any ships entering the waters around the strait.

Iranian missile and drone launch capabilities have sharply decreased over the past few days as US and Israeli strikes have destroyed numerous launch sites, drone facilities, and missile stockpiles. CENTCOM also confirmed the first combat use of the Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM. The PrSM is a new long-range missile capable of striking deep into Iranian territory. An Israeli Air Force raid was also conducted on underground facilities in Tehran, housing the IRGC headquarters and Iranian Intelligence Directorate headquarters, as per the IDF.

Iran Launch Capability Trend: https://t.co/HIqnyhmE8m pic.twitter.com/GZfJhHGZbc
— Eyal Ofer אייל עופר (@Eyalo365) March 4, 2026

Iran’s Council of Experts building was struck on March 3, after the council began meeting to choose the next supreme leader of Iran following the death of Ali Khamenei. Mojtaba Khameni, Ali Kahemeni’s son, was expected to be named and is the current frontrunner, an Israeli strike on the Council of Expert’s building has complicated the naming of a new Supreme Leader. Contrary to initial reports following the Israeli strikes, Mojtaba Khamenei, at the time of writing, reported to be alive and was not present when the building was bombed.

https://t.co/PiqQpVIrMu pic.twitter.com/Wc1e0B0um7
— Department of War (@DeptofWar) March 4, 2026

Strikes on Iranian Navy ships and IRIAF aircraft have continued and seen a sharp decrease in the operational capabilities of Iranian naval operations and air coverage respectively, with CENTCOM reporting that over 20 ships have been sunk so far. This includes the first sinking of a ship by an American submarine since World War Two, when the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was struck by an MK48 torpedo launched from a US Navy attack submarine just outside Indian waters. The imagery released by the Department of War will no doubt become an enduring image of the conflict. Sri Lanka has reported that it was able to rescue 32 of the sailors onboard the Iranian ship, but 87 sailors are reported dead or missing. The frigate previously took part in India’s Milan 2026 exercise in the Bay of Bengal and was struck during its return home shortly after entering international waters.

Finally, the UK’s base in Cyprus, RAF Akatiori, was hit by an Iranian drone on March 1, incurring unspecified damage. The UK Government has reported no deaths or significant injuries. The base was struck by a Shahed drone attack, with reports saying that several drones were intercepted but at least one broke through defenses to strike the base. In response to the attack, the destroyer HMS Dragon will be headed to Cyprus to assist in the attack. RAF operations around the Gulf have thwarted further attacks in the region around Iraq, Qatar, and Jordan, where an RAF F-35B shot down a UAV, marking the first aerial target to be shot down by an RAF F-35 in combat.

The post Operation Epic Fury Sitrep: US Casualties Rise to six, IAF F-35 Shoots Down Iranian Aircraft, First American Sub Kill Since WW2 appeared first on Overt Defense.

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