US HIMARS Launch ATACMS Missiles from Kuwait in Strikes on Iranian Military Targets.

U.S. Army M142 HIMARS units from the Wisconsin National Guard launched ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles from Kuwait during the first week of Operation Epic Fury, targeting Iranian military infrastructure. The strikes underscore the expanding role of U.S. ground-based long-range precision fires in high-intensity operations against hardened regional targets.

During the opening week of Operation Epic Fury, U.S. Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) assigned to the 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery Regiment of the Wisconsin National Guard’s 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade conducted combat launches of ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles against Iranian military targets. The missiles were fired from positions in Kuwait, extending the U.S. Army's ground-based strike reach deep into Iranian territory. The operation highlights the increasing reliance on HIMARS as a precision deep-strike platform capable of engaging high-value infrastructure from standoff distances exceeding 300 kilometers. Defense officials indicate the strikes were part of a broader campaign targeting Iranian missile facilities and command nodes.

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U.S. Army M142 HIMARS units from the Wisconsin National Guard launch ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles from Kuwait during Operation Epic Fury, striking Iranian military infrastructure and demonstrating the expanding role of U.S. ground-based long-range precision fires against hardened regional targets. (Picture source: U.S. CENTCOM)

The ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missile launches formed part of the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury, a large-scale U.S.-led military campaign launched in late February 2026 targeting Iranian military capabilities, including missile forces, naval assets, and strategic infrastructure considered a threat to regional security. The operation involves coordinated strikes from air, land, and sea across the Persian Gulf region, demonstrating the integration of long-range fires with joint and coalition military operations.

Information about the HIMARS launches was shared on X by the defense monitoring account OSINTdefender on March 16, 2026, describing how U.S. Army artillery units from the Wisconsin National Guard prepared and fired ATACMS missiles toward Iranian targets from Kuwait during the first week of the operation. The report provides rare operational insight into the employment of U.S. Army National Guard artillery units conducting long-range precision strikes during an active combat campaign in the Middle East.

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is one of the U.S. Army’s most flexible long-range precision strike platforms. Mounted on a wheeled 6×6 tactical truck chassis, the system combines high mobility with the ability to launch guided rockets or a single Army Tactical Missile System missile from its launcher pod. The vehicle can rapidly deploy, fire, and relocate within minutes, enabling artillery units to conduct “shoot-and-scoot” operations that reduce vulnerability to counter-battery fire or enemy detection.

The ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missile provides HIMARS with a powerful deep-strike capability. Developed by Lockheed Martin of the United States, the ATACMS MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System is a short-range tactical ballistic missile designed to strike high-value targets such as air defense systems, command posts, logistics hubs, airfields, and missile launch facilities located far behind enemy lines. The missile uses a solid-fuel rocket motor and follows a high-altitude ballistic trajectory guided by inertial navigation and GPS systems to achieve high accuracy.

Depending on the variant, the ATACMS missile has a maximum operational range of approximately 300 km. Early versions had ranges of 165-270 km, while later models, such as the MGM-140B and MGM-168, can reach up to 300 km. The missile travels at supersonic speeds exceeding Mach 3 and climbs to altitudes of several tens of kilometers before descending toward its target along a ballistic trajectory, delivering either a unitary high-explosive warhead or other payload configurations optimized for destroying hardened military infrastructure.

Geographically, the use of ATACMS missiles from Kuwait highlights how U.S. ground-based missile artillery can project strike power across the Persian Gulf region. The distance between northern Kuwait and parts of southwestern Iran across the northern Persian Gulf is estimated at 200-300 km, depending on the launch location and the target area in Iran. This places several Iranian military installations within the maximum strike envelope of ATACMS when fired from positions in Kuwait.

This operational geometry allows U.S. HIMARS batteries positioned in Kuwait to engage selected Iranian targets without redeploying closer to Iranian territory. By operating from coalition bases in Kuwait, U.S. forces can conduct cross-border precision strikes while remaining under the protection of established air defense networks and logistical infrastructure.

The use of HIMARS-launched ATACMS missiles during Operation Epic Fury also reflects a broader transformation in modern military doctrine emphasizing long-range precision fires. Traditionally, deep-strike missions were primarily conducted by combat aircraft or by cruise missiles launched from naval platforms. However, advances in missile technology now allow ground forces to deliver comparable long-range precision strikes using highly mobile artillery systems.

For the U.S. Army, HIMARS and ATACMS are key elements of the Long-Range Precision Fires modernization priority. These systems enable ground commanders to rapidly engage high-value targets across an extended battlespace, complementing air and naval strike capabilities. The system’s mobility and deployability make it particularly valuable in dispersed operations across large theaters such as the Middle East.

The Wisconsin National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery Regiment's participation in these operations highlights the integration of National Guard formations into high-end combat missions alongside active-duty forces. Over the past decade, National Guard HIMARS units have participated in extensive multinational exercises and operational deployments designed to prepare for high-intensity warfare scenarios.

Strategically, the employment of ATACMS missiles against Iranian targets demonstrates the United States’ ability to conduct rapid, long-range precision strikes from mobile ground platforms distributed across the region. With HIMARS systems deployable by transport aircraft and capable of operating from austere positions, U.S. commanders can rapidly establish strike nodes to target critical enemy assets across a wide operational area.

As Operation Epic Fury continues, the role of long-range rocket artillery is expected to remain a central component of U.S. strike operations. The ongoing campaign is also providing a real-world demonstration of the capabilities of the HIMARS - ATACMS combination, which has already proven effective in multiple modern conflicts and remains one of the most powerful ground-launched precision-strike systems currently fielded by the U.S. Army.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.