Space Force’s role in Iran, Venezuela raids fueling push for more resources

Space Force guardians provided critical support during high-profile U.S. military operations in Iran and Venezuela — experience that underscores the need for additional resources to prepare the service for future conflicts, a senior official told DefenseScoop in an exclusive interview Friday.

Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Absolute Resolve were carried out by the joint force in June 2025 and January 2026, respectively. Pentagon leadership have touted the raids — during which over 100 aircraft and weapon systems were deployed — as proof of the department’s ability to project military power across the world.

But key to the success of both of those ops was control over what Lt. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, commander of the Space Force’s Combat Forces Command, refers to as “the invisible front line” of outer space.

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