Image Credentials: Image Title: ARSENAL OF THE SKIES OPERATION EPIC FURY SURPASSES IRAQ WAR IN TOMAHAWK USAGE Source: (sora.openai) Date: April 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
WASHINGTON — The United States has officially crossed a historic threshold in modern warfare. New data reveals that the ongoing military campaign in Iran, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, has now seen more Tomahawk cruise missiles launched than any other conflict in U.S. history, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
According to figures compiled by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the U.S. has fired 850 of the long-range, precision-guided missiles since the conflict began on February 28. This total narrowly eclipses the 802 missiles launched during the opening stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom over two decades ago.
A New Hierarchy of Firepower
The scale of the current offensive highlights a shift toward high-intensity, stand-off warfare designed to dismantle hardened infrastructure without immediate ground troop insertion. The CSIS report ranks the most significant Tomahawk-heavy operations as follows:
| Rank | Operation | Conflict | Missiles Fired |
| 1 | Epic Fury | Iran (2026) | 850 |
| 2 | Iraqi Freedom | Iraq (2003) | 802 |
| 3 | Desert Fox | Iraq (1998) | 325 |
| 4 | Desert Storm | Iraq (1991) | 288 |
| 5 | Noble Anvil | Yugoslavia (1999) | 218 |
| 6 | Odyssey Dawn | Libya (2011) | 199 |
What is a Tomahawk?
The Tomahawk is a subsonic, precision land-attack cruise missile that has been the backbone of U.S. “reach out and touch” military strategy for decades. Launched from both naval ships and submarines, and recently from ground-based Army launchers, it is designed to fly at extremely low altitudes to evade radar, striking high-value targets with surgical accuracy from hundreds of miles away.
Military analysts suggest that the unprecedented volume of strikes in Iran indicates a sustained effort to neutralize deeply buried nuclear facilities, command centers, and ballistic missile sites.
The Drone Factor and Future Stockpiles
The report also touches on the evolving nature of the Gulf conflict. While Tomahawks handle the “heavy lifting,” the U.S. and its allies have increasingly turned to interceptor drones, many sourced from Ukrainian manufacturers, to counter Iranian-made suicide drones targeting U.S. naval assets.
Despite the massive depletion of current stockpiles, the Pentagon appears to be doubling down. Congressional research indicates that an additional 190 Tomahawk deliveries are fast-tracked for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps through the remainder of 2026. This replenishment suggests that the “high-intensity” phase of Operation Epic Fury may not be concluding anytime soon.