The United States has indicated that its military campaign against Iran will escalate in the upcoming phase of Operation Epic Fury. American and Israeli forces are gearing up to increase strikes aimed at dismantling Tehran’s military and missile infrastructure. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at US Central Command headquarters in Tampa, commended the operation for already causing significant damage to Iran’s military capabilities.
CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper and over 50,000 American service members involved in the mission were praised by Hegseth for delivering precise strikes that have crippled Iran’s navy, rendered missile sites ineffective, and established control over the skies and seas. Cooper mentioned that the campaign, now in its sixth day, is steadily diminishing Iran’s military capacity. US air power has conducted extensive strikes deep inside Iranian territory, including around Tehran.
American forces have targeted hardened missile facilities using stealth bombers, with recent strikes involving 2,000-pound penetrator bombs aimed at deeply buried ballistic missile launchers. Strikes have also hit Iranian military infrastructure associated with space and missile operations. These actions have significantly reduced Iranian missile and drone activity, with ballistic missile attacks decreasing by 90 percent and drone attacks by 83 percent since the beginning of the operation.
Naval operations have intensified, resulting in the sinking or destruction of over 30 Iranian ships, including an Iranian drone carrier ship comparable in size to a World War II aircraft carrier. The focus of the operation is now shifting towards dismantling Iran’s missile production capability. The United States, with ample defensive and offensive resources, is prepared to sustain and expand the campaign in the region, collaborating closely with Israeli forces to increase pressure on Iran.
Reports of an American fighter jet being shot down were dismissed as false by Hegseth, emphasizing that the United States will dictate the pace and duration of the campaign. Operation Epic Fury, initiated on February 28 amid escalating tensions with Iran, has garnered support from countries across the region. The conflict, evolving into a broader military confrontation involving US and allied forces in the Middle East, underscores the long-standing international concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile development.
