The United States' deployment against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, has become one of the most extensive military commitments in recent decades, stretching across naval, air, and missile-defense assets. As President Donald Trump warns he may end the ceasefire, Washington has concentrated overwhelming force in the Middle East, but at the cost of long-term readiness and global deterrence, according to an Atlantic Council tracker.
Naval Power: Carriers and Destroyers
At sea, two of the three available aircraft carriers — USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush — are deployed. USS Gerald R. Ford has returned home after the longest carrier mission since Vietnam, while the planned retirement of USS Nimitz has been delayed until 2027, underscoring strain on carrier availability. The US Navy currently fields eleven aircraft carriers.
Destroyer commitments are equally heavy: 18 Arleigh Burke-class vessels are operating in the region, roughly one-third of the class. Amphibious groups including USS Tripoli and USS Boxer add further weight. Mine-countermeasure ships and littoral combat vessels are tasked with keeping Gulf shipping lanes open against the threat of Iranian mines.
Air Power: Bombers and Support
Air power has been mobilized at scale. Fifteen B-1 Lancer bombers — about 60 percent of the fleet — are flying missions from the United Kingdom, marking one of the largest concentrated deployments in decades. Stealth B-2s are also engaged, though their numbers remain classified.
Surveillance and command aircraft are heavily committed: six E-3 Sentry AWACS — roughly three-quarters of the fleet — are deployed despite losses to Iranian drones. Drone operations have suffered attrition, with at least 16 MQ-9 Reapers lost since the war began. Tanker aircraft, vital for sustaining long-range missions, are also stretched, with more than 100 KC-135 and KC-46 refuelers deployed.
Ground Forces and Missile Defense
US troops from the 82nd Airborne Division have been sent to the region; exact troop numbers remain unreleased. The Army has also deployed long-range artillery systems such as the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), which have struck targets deep inside Iranian territory.
Missile-defense assets shield American allies and forward bases. Four to six Patriot batteries are active in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while two to three THAAD systems are deployed in Jordan and Israel. That represents nearly a third of US inventory, with some interceptors shifted from the Korean peninsula, weakening defenses against North Korea.
Strategic Implications
While these deployments demonstrate overwhelming force projection against Iran, they also expose vulnerabilities. Operation Epic Fury illustrates both the scale of US military power and the dangers of strategic overextension in a multi-theater world.
