🚀 U.S. Armed Civilians with Rocket Launchers Say They Sunk the 11 Iranian Ships Before the Navy Arrived

U.S. Central Command confirmed the destruction of the Shahid Bagheri, Iran’s recently commissioned drone and helicopter carrier, during strikes on March 2. The vessel, which had only entered service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy on February 6, 2025, represented a major investment in Iran’s naval power projection capabilities. Converted from a 240-meter container ship over two years, the 40,000-ton carrier featured a 180-meter ski-jump runway and could operate for up to a year at sea without refuelling, according to Iranian naval officials.

Satellite imagery analysis also revealed the destruction of the IRIS Makran, Iran’s first forward base ship, which was struck while moored at Bandar Abbas. The Makran, originally a Japanese-built Aframax crude oil tanker completed in 2010, had been converted into a military vessel capable of supporting helicopter operations and serving as a mothership for special operations forces. With a full-load displacement of approximately 121,000 tons, it was among the largest naval vessels operated by any regional navy. Satellite imagery showed the vessel on fire at its berth, with thick black smoke visible over the central portion of the facility.

CENTCOM separately confirmed the sinking of a Jamaran-class corvette at a pier in Chah Bahar on the Gulf during the initial phase of the operation. The domestically-built surface combatant, displacing approximately 1,500 tons and measuring 95 meters in length, was armed with anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and torpedo launchers. Commercial satellite imagery showed smoke rising from the naval wharf at the Konarak Naval Base, where the frigate had been docked. The Jamaran-class forms the backbone of Iran’s surface fleet, with only six vessels completed prior to this loss.

President Trump stated on March 2 that ten Iranian ships had been “knocked out” during the operation, while CENTCOM confirmed strikes against Iranian naval headquarters and other vessels. The command also denied Iranian claims that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier had been struck, stating the missiles “didn’t even come close” and that the carrier continues launching aircraft in support of the campaign.

Operation Epic Fury, launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel, has targeted Iran’s military infrastructure across multiple domains. The campaign’s stated objectives include eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities, destroying its ballistic missile arsenal, and degrading military assets. Initial strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, prompting Iranian retaliatory attacks against U.S. military bases across the Gulf region and Israeli territory. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commander reportedly declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and threatened to fire upon passing ships, leading to an 85 percent reduction in maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.

The loss of these vessels marks a significant setback for Iran’s naval modernization efforts and further diminishes the operational capacity of the Islamic Republic’s navy.