In a dramatic night raid deep inside the Gulf, a US B‑2 Spirit stealth bomber has crippled Iran’s flagship drone carrier Shahid Bagheri, dropping multiple 2,000‑pound precision bombs as part of Operation Epic Fury, Pentagon officials say.

Taking off from an undisclosed base, the B‑2 reportedly slipped through Iranian radar and released a string of GPS‑guided JDAMs from high altitude. Newly released infrared footage shows three massive blasts tearing through the converted container ship’s flight deck, followed by secondary explosions as stored fuel and kamikaze drones detonated in rapid succession.

US Central Command calls the Bagheri “the beating heart” of Iran’s long‑range drone campaign against US bases, Israel and Gulf shipping, claiming the strike has left the vessel “mission‑killed” and listing in shallow water. “We used heavy, 2,000‑pound munitions for one reason,” a senior officer says. “We wanted zero doubt that this platform is out of the fight.”

Tehran insists damage is “limited” and vows that “new drone mother‑ships” will replace the carrier, but video from the scene shows a blackened superstructure, twisted crane arms and firefighters battling flames along the waterline. Iranian hardliners are demanding direct retaliation on US warships and bases “across the region.”

Military analysts say the B‑2 strike sends a brutal message: no flagship, no matter how heavily defended, is safe. But they also warn that publicly showcasing 2,000‑pound bombs slamming into Iran’s premier drone asset may push the conflict past the point where either side can easily step back.