U.S. Central Command releases footage of ATACMS tactical missile launches as Operation Epic Fury targets Iranian military sites

CENTCOM said Operation Epic Fury commenced on 28 February at the direction of the President of the United States. U.S. and partner forces began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. ET to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus, prioritising locations that posed an imminent threat.

According to the command, targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defence systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields. The first hours of the operation involved precision munitions launched from air, land and sea.

“The President ordered bold action, and our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are answering the call,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM. Following the initial wave of strikes, CENTCOM forces defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks, with no reported U.S. casualties or combat-related injuries and only minimal damage to installations.

The footage released on 1 March shows a single HIMARS vehicle elevating its launcher pod before firing an Army Tactical Missile System missile during a night-time launch. A bright exhaust plume and shockwave, characteristic of a large solid-fuel missile, are visible as the missile departs toward its target.

In a message accompanying the video on X, CENTCOM stated that Iranian leadership had been warned and described the action as “swift and decisive.” The command added that the strikes were carried out under presidential direction, although it did not disclose the launch location, specific targets in that salvo, or immediate results.

The ATACMS is a long-range, guided surface-to-surface missile that provides commanders with immediate firepower to shape the battlespace. Each missile is packaged in a look-alike MLRS launch pod and can be fired from the MLRS family of launchers, including the HIMARS and M270 platforms.

Equipped with an improved guidance package using Global Positioning System technology, ATACMS carries a WDU18 500-pound class blast fragmentation warhead and has a maximum range of 300 kilometres. It is the only mobile tactical surface-to-surface missile system with long-range precision strike capability currently fielded by the U.S. Army.

The Iranian regime was warned. CENTCOM is now delivering swift and decisive action as directed. pic.twitter.com/nNDoDexH6g

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 1, 2026

Over more than two decades, Lockheed Martin has produced more than 3,800 ATACMS missiles, with over 600 used in combat, where the system demonstrated a high level of precision and reliability. In August 2017, the Army signed its first production contract for upgraded ATACMS missiles, covering the modernisation of 150 rounds under a service life extension programme that replaced older cluster warheads with new unitary warheads and extended storage life by at least ten years in line with Department of Defense policy.

CENTCOM has described Operation Epic Fury as involving the largest regional concentration of American military firepower in a generation. U.S. officials say the broader campaign is intended to degrade Iranian command-and-control nodes, air defence assets, and elements of the country’s missile and drone infrastructure, while details on individual engagements remain limited.