U.S. and allies expended over 5,000 munitions in four-day Iran offensive
U.S., Israel, and Gulf allies used more than 5,000 munitions in the first 96 hours of Operation Epic Fury, launched February 28 against Iran.
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The United States, Israel, and their Gulf allies expended more than 5,000 munitions—both offensive and defensive—during the first four days of their military operation against Iran, according to an assessment by experts at the Payne Institute for Public Policy.
The operation, codenamed "Epic Fury," began February 28. In the initial 96 hours alone, 5,197 munitions of 35 different types were deployed, making it the most intense initial air campaign in modern history, surpassing previous operations that used 735 bombs.
The U.S. military's Central Command reported Monday that forces have struck more than 7,000 targets in Iran and damaged or destroyed more than 100 Iranian vessels since the offensive began. Officials said the strikes aim to dismantle Iran's security apparatus, prioritizing locations representing imminent threats.
Casualty figures vary by source. Iran reports more than 1,200 deaths, while the nongovernmental organization Human Rights Activists in Iran estimates more than 3,000 fatalities.
Experts have flagged supply challenges for some munitions categories, particularly air defense interceptors and radar systems. They cited production bottlenecks and noted the absence of alternative suppliers, as well as China's control over rare earth minerals and materials essential to munitions manufacturing.