The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) assured this Tuesday that Iran's military capability is "declining" after four consecutive days of offensive under the operation called Epic Fury.
In an official update, CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper stated that, by order of President Donald Trump and the Secretary of Defense, U.S. forces are carrying out "an unprecedented operation" aimed at eliminating Tehran's ability to "threaten American citizens and interests in the region."
According to the military report, more than 50,000 U.S. troops, around 200 aircraft, two aircraft carriers, and strategic bombers are participating in the operation. Command assured that this is the largest buildup of forces by the U.S. in the Middle East in recent years.
During the first 24 hours, the United States and Israel would have carried out attacks on a large scale, which Commander Cooper compared to the "Shock and Awe" operation of 2003 in Iraq, although he stated that this offensive doubled that one in initial intensity.
According to the official update, nearly 2,000 targets have been reached in less than 100 hours of operation, with more than 2,000 munitions used.
Washington claims that it has severely degraded Iran's air defenses, destroyed hundreds of ballistic missile and drone launchers, and attacked multiple deep facilities related to the missile program.
B-2, B-1, and B-52 Bombers participated in attacks against command and control centers, while the U.S. Navy reportedly destroyed 17 Iranian vessels, including their most operational submarine, as it now has a hole.
"The ability of Iran to strike us and our partners is decreasing," stated the commander, who noted that U.S. forces will continue to carry out operations against dynamic targets.
The report also indicated that the Iranian regime has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones, some of which—according to Washington—were aimed at civilian targets.
The United States asserts that there are currently no Iranian military vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, or the Gulf of Oman, and that naval forces are "squeezing" Tehran's maritime capability.
The military command also emphasized that the air forces of the United States and Israel dominate Iranian airspace, labeling that country as "the largest state sponsor of terrorism."
The operation is taking place amid a regional escalation that keeps international markets and governments around the world on alert due to the risk of an expansion of the conflict.
Filed under: