The US military has destroyed 17 Iranian naval vessels, including its most operational submarine, as part of the ongoing Operation Epic Fury, a senior US commander said Tuesday.
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said in a video posted on X that the campaign, now in its fourth day, has targeted nearly 2,000 sites using over 2,000 munitions. More than 50,000 US troops and over 200 fighter aircraft, including B-1 and B-2 bombers, are involved, reports CNN.
“Today, there is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman, and we will not stop,” Cooper said.
He added that Iran has retaliated with over 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones, though its ability to strike US forces is “declining.” Cooper described the strikes as “uncontested surgical” operations aimed at neutralizing threats to US forces and international shipping.
The operation comes amid the broader US-Israel campaign against Iran, which has drawn international scrutiny over its scale and potential consequences for regional stability.