The US navy has destroyed 17 Iranian ships in its marketing campaign in opposition to Iran, which includes tens of hundreds of US service members, the commander of US forces in the Middle East mentioned in a video Tuesday.
“In simple terms, we’re focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us,” Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, mentioned in the message posted to X, detailing “uncontested surgical strikes” by B-2 and B-1 bombers.
“We are also sinking the Iranian navy — the entire navy,” he added. “Thus far, we’ve destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine that now has a hole in its side.”
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“For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping. Today, there is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz or Gulf of Oman,” Cooper mentioned. “And we will not stop.”
Cooper’s feedback come 4 days into the US navy operation in opposition to Iran, referred to as Operation Epic Fury. Defense Department officers have mentioned destroying Iran’s navy is a major goal for the operation. There are greater than 50,000 US troops and greater than 200 fighter plane concerned in the mission, Cooper mentioned, and strikes are ongoing 24/7.
“Now, we’re less than 100 hours into this operation, and we’ve already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions,” he mentioned.
In retaliation to the US’ and Israel’s bombardment, Iran has launched greater than 500 ballistic missiles and greater than 2,000 drones, Cooper mentioned. Still, he mentioned Tehran’s “ability to hit us is declining.”