US claims destroyed IRGC command centre, more Israel attacks on Tehran

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on March 3, 2026, that US forces destroyed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command and control facilities, air defense installations, and missile/drone launch sites in Iran, as US-Israeli attacks continued for a fourth day. CENTCOM claims US forces struck over 1,250 targets in Iran and destroyed 11 Iranian ships. Iran has retaliated, with CENTCOM confirming six US service members killed in attacks on Kuwait, where three US fighter jets were mistakenly shot down. ISNA reports five IRGC members killed in US-Israeli attacks in Bushehr province. The conflict's duration remains uncertain, with President Trump stating the US is prepared for a longer engagement.

Analysts suggest that recent US and Israeli air strikes against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, serve as a "wake-up call" for China regarding electronic warfare and intelligence strategies. The strikes, which resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, demonstrated the importance of electronic warfare, intelligence gathering, and AI-assisted intelligence missions in modern warfare, beyond traditional weaponry. Despite Iran's attempts to bolster its air defenses with Chinese and Russian missile systems after a previous conflict, these systems proved ineffective against the US and Israeli operation. This event, along with a similar US operation in Venezuela, highlights the vulnerability of air defense systems to electronic warfare and underscores the need for China to re-evaluate its military's use of advanced technologies.

U.S. forces, in coordination with Israel, launched "Operation Epic Fury," a large-scale military assault on Iranian targets on Saturday, beginning at 1:15 a.m. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that over 1,000 sites across Iran were struck within the first 24 hours, resulting in the elimination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials. The operation involved a wide array of military assets, including B-2 stealth bombers, fighter jets, attack aircraft, missile defense systems, drones, naval vessels, and reconnaissance aircraft. CENTCOM confirmed the first combat deployment of LUCAS one-way attack drones, modeled after Iranian Shahed drones, during the operation. Targeted sites included command centers, IRGC headquarters, air defense systems, missile sites, naval assets, and military communication infrastructure. Iran retaliated with missile launches.

A video verified by the BBC appears to show an F-15 fighter jet crashing to the ground near Kuwait City. The footage was filmed from the west of the city, on the edge of the Al Jahra area. US Central Command later confirmed that three US F-15 jets went down due to "an apparent friendly fire incident". All six crew members ejected safely and are in stable condition. The incident occurred in an unspecified location near Kuwait City, with no further details provided.

The US military announced on Saturday that it deployed single-use drones in combat for the first time. US Central Command (Centcom) stated that "Task Force Scorpion Strike" utilized these low-cost, one-way attack drones. The drones are modeled after Iranian Shahed drones, which have been prominently used in the Ukraine-Russia war. Centcom emphasized that this deployment represents "American-made retribution," referencing Iran's export of Shahed drones to Russia. The use of these expendable drones, cheaper than traditional missiles, signals the US military's adoption of a technology that has significantly impacted modern warfare in Ukraine.