U.S. forces have struck more than 8,000 Iranian military targets and sunk or destroyed 130 Iranian vessels in 22 days of combat operations, according to U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper.
Cooper called it “the largest elimination of a navy over a three-week period since World War II.”
Speaking Saturday in his fourth operational briefing on Operation Epic Fury, Cooper said U.S. forces have flown more than 8,000 combat sorties and remain “on plan to eliminate Iran’s ability to project meaningful power outside its borders.”
“Their navy is not sailing, their tactical fighters are not flying, and they’ve lost the ability to launch missiles and drones at the high rates seen at the beginning of the conflict,” Cooper said. “Our progress is obvious.”
Among the targets destroyed: thousands of Iranian ballistic missiles, advanced attack drones, anti-ship cruise missile stockpiles, mobile launchers, intelligence support sites, and missile radar relays used to track commercial shipping.
Just two days ago, Cooper said, U.S. forces executed “the longest field artillery strike in Army combat history,” using precision-guided munitions to destroy hardened Iranian military infrastructure.
Earlier this week, multiple 5,000-pound bombs were dropped on an underground storage facility along Iran’s coastline. “We not only took out the facility but also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements,” Cooper said. “Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz is degraded as a result, and we will not stop pursuing these targets.”
U.S. forces have also built what Cooper described as “the most extensive air defense umbrella in the world over the Middle East right now,” with Gulf partners helping to intercept thousands of Iranian drone attacks.
The campaign is now “zeroed in” on eliminating Iran’s capacity to close or threaten the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of global oil supply passes.
The update came one day after President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran. “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS… the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
More than 20 nations issued a joint statement Saturday condemning Iranian attacks on civilian shipping and calling on Tehran to immediately cease interference with maritime traffic. The countries affirmed readiness to support operations to restore safe passage through the strait.
Iran launched a fresh ballistic missile barrage at Israel the same day, wounding more than 100 people in two southern Israeli towns after missiles penetrated Israeli air defense systems.
The conflict entered its 22nd day Sunday with no sign Iran intends to comply with the American ultimatum.
