US Central Command announced on Thursday (March 6) that American forces had struck an Iranian drone carrier described as roughly the size of a Second World War aircraft carrier. The strike marks the sixth day of the ongoing military operation against Iran.
CENTCOM stated that US forces were not holding back in their mission under Operation Epic Fury, which aims to sink the entire Iranian Navy.
U.S. forces aren't holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy. Today, an Iranian drone carrier, roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier, was struck and is now on fire. pic.twitter.com/WyA4fniZck
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 6, 2026
The conflict was set in motion on February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several senior Iranian officials. The United States designated the operation “Epic Fury,” while Israel named its participation “Lion’s Roar.”
In a social media post accompanied by video footage, CENTCOM wrote, “U.S. forces aren’t holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy. Today, an Iranian drone carrier, roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier, was struck and is now on fire.”
The world's largest aircraft carrier is part of the team of U.S. forces dominating the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. Around-the-clock operations are keeping U.S. Navy F/A-18s in the fight. pic.twitter.com/8qKoZm6Tad
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 6, 2026
In a separate post, CENTCOM highlighted the role of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, in the operation. “The world’s largest aircraft carrier is part of the team of U.S. forces dominating the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. Around-the-clock operations are keeping U.S. Navy F/A-18s in the fight,” the post read.
The military campaign has unfolded against a backdrop of long-running tensions between Washington and Tehran, including stalled negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. In response to the strikes, Iran launched retaliatory attacks on Israel and several US military installations across the region, targeting bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
Khamenei’s death was officially confirmed on March 1. Iranian authorities vowed severe retaliation and warned that American military bases in the region would be considered extensions of US territory and treated accordingly. Gulf nations have urged restraint and called for a halt to further escalation, even as Washington and Tel Aviv have signaled that operations may continue for weeks.
As hostilities intensify, Iran-aligned groups have entered the fight on Tehran’s side. World leaders have increasingly called for de-escalation, with some governments condemning the US-led campaign outright, while the majority of NATO allies have expressed backing for Washington’s position.
