An IAF F-15I landing / Envato Market

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – U.S. forces have struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, according to an operational update Wednesday from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.

Cooper said the strikes have included more than 60 Iranian naval vessels, among them the regime’s last Shahid Soleimani-class warships destroyed Tuesday, along with a Jamaran-class warship and several other surface combatant ships eliminated during the opening days of the campaign.

The goal of the operation, Cooper explained, is to end Iran’s ability to project military power and threaten international shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. forces have already achieved air superiority over large portions of Iran, placing sustained pressure on the regime while systematically targeting missile systems, drones, and Iran’s defense-industrial infrastructure.

“We are not only defending against Iranian threats,” Cooper said, “we are methodically dismantling them.”

According to CENTCOM, Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped sharply since the operation began, with U.S. strikes described as “unpredictable, dynamic, and decisive.”

The campaign has also incorporated advanced artificial intelligence tools that allow analysts to process battlefield data within seconds, helping commanders make faster operational decisions. Cooper emphasized that while AI assists in data analysis, human commanders still make all final targeting decisions.

The U.S. Space Force has also played a significant role in the campaign by disrupting Iranian capabilities and protecting American forces engaged in the operation.

Despite suffering heavy losses, Cooper warned that Iran continues launching attacks against neighboring Gulf states while positioning military assets near civilian populations.

CENTCOM also issued a warning for civilians to avoid Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz being used for naval military operations, stating that facilities supporting military activity could lose protected civilian status under international law and become legitimate targets.

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