The United States military says it has sunk more than 30 Iranian naval vessels as its ongoing campaign against Iran moves into a new and intensified phase. According to senior American military officials, the operation has significantly weakened Iran’s ability to launch missile and drone attacks across the region.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed that US forces had dealt heavy blows to Iran’s naval fleet and drone capabilities.
“We’re now up over 30 ships sunk,” Cooper said. “In just the last few hours, we struck an Iranian drone carrier ship, roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier. As we speak, that vessel is on fire.”
The strike against the drone carrier marks one of the most dramatic developments in the conflict so far, highlighting how aggressively the United States is targeting Iran’s military infrastructure.
Missile and Drone Attacks Drop Sharply
Admiral Cooper, who leads US Central Command responsible for American military operations across the Middle East, also revealed that Iranian offensive capabilities appear to be weakening under the sustained pressure of the campaign.
According to the latest military assessments:
Ballistic missile attacks launched by Iran have decreased by approximately 90 percent since the beginning of the conflict.
Drone attacks have dropped by about 83 percent compared with the first days of the confrontation.
These figures suggest that repeated strikes on Iranian launch sites, command centers, and naval assets are limiting Tehran’s ability to retaliate at the same scale as before.
Origins of the Operation
The United States began its large-scale military campaign against Iran on February 28, coordinating closely with Israeli forces. The joint effort marked one of the most significant escalations in regional tensions in recent years.
Since the start of the campaign, Iran has attempted to respond with waves of drones and missile attacks aimed at various targets across the region. However, US officials say those capabilities are now being steadily degraded.
The mission has been formally named Operation Epic Fury, reflecting Washington’s commitment to neutralizing Iran’s long-range strike capabilities and its naval power in strategic waterways.
Targeting Iran’s Military Infrastructure
Beyond sinking ships and intercepting incoming threats, the United States says it is now shifting focus toward dismantling Iran’s weapons manufacturing network.
Admiral Cooper explained that the next phase of the operation will focus on Iran’s missile production system.
“We’re not only targeting the missiles themselves,” he said. “We are working to level Iran’s ballistic missile industrial base.”
This means US forces are now striking factories, research centers, and logistics networks believed to be involved in the development and production of Iran’s missile arsenal.
A Strategic Turning Point
Military analysts believe the shift toward destroying production capabilities could significantly impact Iran’s long-term military power. By targeting manufacturing infrastructure rather than only operational weapons, the United States aims to prevent Iran from rebuilding its missile and drone forces quickly.
According to Cooper, the strategy moving forward will be systematic and sustained.
“As we transition to the next phase of this operation, we will systematically dismantle Iran’s missile production capability for the future,” he said.
Regional and Global Implications
The escalating confrontation has drawn international attention and concern. The Middle East remains one of the most strategically sensitive regions in the world, and any large-scale military confrontation has the potential to affect global security, energy markets, and diplomatic relations.
While the United States frames the operation as a defensive measure to reduce threats posed by Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, observers say the situation remains fragile and could evolve rapidly.
The Human Side of Conflict
Behind every statistic—every ship sunk, every missile intercepted, every drone destroyed—there is a larger story unfolding across the region. Military conflicts are often discussed in numbers and strategies, but their ripple effects extend far beyond battlefields.
Families across the Middle East watch the developments with uncertainty. Communities hope for stability. Leaders debate security strategies. And ordinary people everywhere are reminded how quickly geopolitical tensions can reshape the world.
As Operation Epic Fury enters its next phase, the global community will be closely watching whether the campaign leads to further escalation—or opens the door for diplomacy and eventual peace.
