U.S. Military Deploys Heavy Bunker-Busters Against Iranian Missile Depots

The United States military has intensified Operation Epic Fury by utilizing 5,000-pound penetrator munitions to strike hardened underground facilities in Iran. Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine confirmed that these precision-guided weapons, specifically designed to breach thick concrete and rock, successfully targeted storage sites housing coastal defense cruise missiles. These missiles have long been identified as a primary threat to commercial and naval vessels navigating the Persian Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The strikes mark the combat debut of the GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrator, a modern bunker-buster engineered to replace aging legacy systems with significantly higher lethality against deeply buried infrastructure.

Since the commencement of the campaign on February 28, U.S. forces have executed over 7,000 strikes against Iranian military assets, including mine storage facilities and naval ammunition depots. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that current operations represent the largest strike packages to date as the military expands its reach further into Iranian territory. Beyond fixed installations, the U.S. continues to target maritime threats, having neutralized more than 120 vessels and 44 mine-laying ships. These actions aim to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint that facilitates the transit of approximately 20 percent of the global oil supply. Pentagon officials have not yet released specific battle damage assessments regarding the most recent strikes.