US Says 17 Iranian Naval Vessels Destroyed
US Says 17 Iranian Naval Vessels Destroyed
The United States military has destroyed 17 Iranian naval vessels during ongoing operations against Iran, according to a statement by the commander of US forces in the Middle East. The announcement comes as the conflict enters its fourth day, with large-scale military strikes and retaliatory attacks continuing across the region.
US Central Command Claims Iranian Naval Losses
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said American forces have carried out multiple strikes targeting Iranian military assets. In a video message released Tuesday, Cooper stated that US operations have destroyed 17 Iranian ships so far, including what he described as one of Iran’s operational submarines.
He said the attacks form part of a broader strategy to neutralize threats capable of targeting US forces and assets in the region. Cooper added that long-range bombers, including B-2 and B-1 aircraft, have conducted precision strikes against Iranian military infrastructure.
According to the commander, US forces are conducting continuous operations aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities.
Operation Epic Fury And Large-Scale US Deployment
The ongoing campaign, named Operation Epic Fury, involves a significant American military presence across the Middle East. US officials said the mission includes more than 50,000 service members and over 200 aircraft participating in the operation.
Cooper stated that the campaign has already resulted in nearly 2,000 targets being struck with more than 2,000 munitions within the first 100 hours of operations. The US military has indicated that weakening Iran’s naval capabilities is a key objective of the campaign.
Officials say strikes are continuing around the clock as part of efforts to disrupt Iranian military assets across multiple domains.
Iranian Missile And Drone Retaliation
Iran has responded to the US and Israeli strikes by launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, according to US military estimates. Cooper said Iran has fired more than 500 ballistic missiles and deployed over 2,000 drones since the escalation began.
Despite the retaliatory attacks, the US commander claimed Iran’s ability to target American forces is gradually declining as military infrastructure continues to be damaged during ongoing strikes.
