U.S. Central Command released video footage on March 5, 2026, depicting strikes against the Iranian drone carrier Shahid Bagheri in the Gulf. The footage shows the vessel sustaining two impacts—one amidships on the port side and another on the port quarter—with visible fires burning aboard the ship.
The video release comes three days after CENTCOM first announced it had conducted strikes against the Shahid Bagheri on March 2. Here is the social media post by CENTCOM on March 2nd:
The command did not specify whether the footage released today documents the initial strike (on March 2nd) or represents a separate engagement. This timing gap has left open the question of whether American forces struck the vessel more than once or whether operational considerations delayed the public release of imagery from the original attack.
The Shahid Bagheri represents Iran’s most significant naval aviation platform. The 40,000-ton vessel was commissioned in February 2025 after being converted from the Perarin, a South Korean-built container ship. Iranian engineers modified the hull to accommodate a 180-meter flight deck equipped with a ski-jump ramp for drone launches.
According to CENTCOM, the vessel had been operating as a “mothership” in the Gulf, serving as a floating launch platform for both unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic missiles. This operational role made it a priority target as tensions escalated in the region.
The strikes against the Shahid Bagheri fall under Operation Epic Fury, which CENTCOM initiated on February 28, 2026. The operation has targeted Iranian military assets across the region, though details on the full scope of strikes remain limited.
The loss or severe damage of the Shahid Bagheri would mark a significant blow to Iran’s naval drone warfare capabilities. The vessel’s conversion from a commercial container ship into a dedicated drone carrier represented a substantial investment in asymmetric naval power projection—a capability Iran has increasingly relied upon in recent years.
CENTCOM has not released additional details about the current status of the Shahid Bagheri or whether the vessel remains afloat. Iranian officials have not publicly commented on the strikes or the condition of the ship.
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