CENTCOM confirms B-2 Stealth bombers struck hardened missile sites in Iran

WEB DESK: In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed for the first time on 1 March 2026 that B-2 Spirit strategic bombers were deployed to conduct precision strikes against high-value targets inside Iran.

According to Middle East Monitor, the operation, part of the wider “Operation Epic Fury,” targeted what officials described as “hardened ballistic missile facilities” that posed an imminent threat to regional stability and U.S. interests.

Key Details of the Strike

The deployment of the B-2 Spirit marks a notable intensification of the U.S. air campaign. According to CENTCOM’s official statement, the strikes targeted deeply buried and fortified underground “missile cities” and storage complexes. The bombers were armed with 2,000-pound guided bombs (JDAMs), specifically designed to penetrate heavily reinforced structures. Four B-2s undertook a grueling round-trip sortie from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, supported by multiple mid-air refuellings.

The operation aimed to degrade Iran’s capacity to launch retaliatory ballistic missile strikes against neighbouring states and U.S. bases in the Gulf. CENTCOM posted on X: “Last night, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran’s hardened ballistic missile facilities. No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve.

Why the B-2?

The decision to deploy the B-2 Spirit a platform costing around $2 billion per aircraft is highly unusual and typically reserved for the most heavily defended targets. Military analysts suggest that the B-2 was selected for two key reasons: its ability to evade radar, allowing it to bypass Iran’s remaining integrated air defence systems (IADS), and its exceptional payload capacity, enabling it to carry the massive “bunker-buster” munitions necessary to strike targets concealed deep within mountainous complexes

Ongoing Conflict: Operation Epic Fury

The strikes come amid a rapid escalation of hostilities that began in late February. While the U.S. has previously relied on F-35s and Tomahawk missiles, the use of the B-2 represents the first public acknowledgement of this particular “silver bullet” asset in the current campaign.

Reports indicate that while the B-2s successfully returned to the United States diverting to Dyess Air Force Base in Texas due to adverse weather the regional situation remains volatile. Iran is said to have retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting sites in Bahrain, Qatar, and Israel.