US delivers devastating blow to Iran’s largest naval drone carrier

US Central Command (CENTCOM) released video footage showing strikes against the Iranian drone carrier Shahid Bagheri in the Gulf. The footage depicts 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 release comes three days after CENTCOM initially announced that strikes had been conducted against the Shahid Bagheri on March 2. In a social media post at the time, the command confirmed the operation but did not specify whether the newly released video shows the initial strike or a separate engagement, Naval News reports.

🚫The Iranian regime’s false messaging machine continues to falsely claim that it has sunk a U.S. aircraft carrier.
✅The TRUTH: The only carrier that has been hit is the Shahid Bagheri, an Iranian drone carrier. U.S. forces struck the ship within hours of launching Operation… pic.twitter.com/6npT8nJcAt

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026

This timing has left open questions about whether US forces struck the vessel more than once or whether operational considerations delayed the public release of imagery.

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 include a 180-meter flight deck equipped with a ski-jump ramp for drone launches.

According to CENTCOM, the ship had been operating as a “mothership” in the Gulf, serving as a floating launch platform for both unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic missiles. Its operational role made it a priority target as tensions escalated in the region.

The strikes were part of Operation Epic Fury, launched by CENTCOM on February 28, 2026, targeting Iranian military assets across the region. While full details of the operation remain limited, the loss or severe damage of the Shahid Bagheri would mark a major blow to Iran’s naval drone warfare capabilities. The ship’s conversion from a commercial container vessel into a dedicated drone carrier represented a substantial investment in asymmetric naval power—a capability Iran has increasingly relied on in recent years.

The attack underscores the growing role of drone warfare in regional conflicts and highlights U.S. efforts to counter Iran’s expanding naval capabilities.

By Vafa Guliyeva