The US military has destroyed 17 Iranian ships in its campaign against Iran, which involves tens of thousands of US service members, the commander of US forces in the Middle East said 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, said 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.”
“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 said. “And we will not stop.”
Cooper’s comments come four days into the US military operation against Iran, called Operation Epic Fury. Defense Department officials have said destroying Iran’s navy is a primary target for the operation. There are more than 50,000 US troops and more than 200 fighter aircraft involved in the mission, Cooper said, 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 said.
In retaliation to the US’ and Israel’s bombardment, Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones, Cooper said. Still, he said Tehran’s “ability to hit us is declining.”