Ankara: US Air Force personnel supporting Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East endured 1,200 "Alarm Red" conditions as they faced Iranian missile and drone attacks. During the operation, they completed 48 runway repairs and conducted more than 400 unexploded ordnance sweeps, as revealed by a senior military official.

According to Anadolu Agency, the operation will be analyzed for its scale, precision, and speed. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, chief of staff of the Air Force, highlighted these aspects at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference. Over 38 days of combat missions, the Joint Force targeted more than 13,000 military sites.

A fleet of 500 aircraft was involved, executing 10,000 sorties and maintaining a daily flight tempo exceeding 250. Meanwhile, personnel managed emergency repairs and conducted over 420 reportable ordnance disposal missions under fire.

The combat missions were part of the Iran war, which began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian leadership and infrastructure. While the campaign weakened Iranian positions, American bases across the Gulf and Jordan faced retaliatory missile and drone attacks, heavily depleting interceptor stockpiles and causing operational damage.

The ongoing Iran war, which has lasted for six months, has resulted in the deaths of 18 US service members and left 824 wounded since February 2026. The US has distinguished Operation Epic Fury from the broader hostilities with Iran, continuing to conduct strikes and maritime operations under different labels, including Project Freedom and Overseas Operations.

To address evolving threats, Wilsbach announced the creation of the Point Defense Weapon System. This system integrates kinetic and directed platforms to enhance base security and supports the establishment of a specialized point-defense career field.