Iran war Image:Republic
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned on Thursday that Iran would face its biggest attack today. He stressed that the US is winning the ongoing conflict decisively and on its own terms.
Addressing a briefing at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the military operation against Iran, code-named ‘Operation Epic Fury’, is completely focused and decisive. The objectives of this operation, which were decided directly by the US administration, have not changed at all since the beginning of the operation.
Hegseth said, “Epic Fury is different. It’s completely focused. It’s decisive. Our objectives, which we got straight from our ‘America First’ President, are exactly the same as they were on day one… We are winning, decisively and on our own terms.”
What happened from 28th February till now?
Hegseth said that since the war began on February 28, more than 7,000 Iranian targets have been struck, including military and energy infrastructure. He said, “To date, we have struck more than 7,000 targets throughout Iran and its military infrastructure. This is no small feat. This is tremendous force used with absolute precision. And again, today’s attack will be the largest ever, just like yesterday’s attack was. As I have said from day one, our capabilities are constantly growing. While Iran’s capabilities are constantly shrinking. We are finding and striking the enemy, and Raining death and destruction from above.”
Hegseth emphasized the severe degradation of Iran’s military capabilities, including completely destroyed air defense systems, badly damaged missile and drone production lines, and hundreds of defense industrial sites that have been directly attacked. He further said that Iran’s ability to produce new ballistic missiles has been most harmed; Ballistic missile attacks on US forces have decreased by 90 percent since the conflict began.
He said, “Iran’s air defenses have been completely destroyed. Iran’s defense industrial base, that is, the factories and production lines that fuel their missile and drone programs, has been largely destroyed. We have conducted direct strikes on hundreds of their defense industrial sites. Their ability to produce new ballistic missiles has probably been hit the hardest. Ballistic missile attacks on our forces have declined by 90 percent since the beginning of the conflict.”
‘More than 120 ships damaged’
The Secretary also pointed to the heavy losses suffered by the Navy, saying, “We have damaged or sunk more than 120 ships of their Navy; in addition, the damage done to many more ships is yet to be assessed. Their submarines, which used to number 11, are now completely destroyed. Their military ports have also been completely paralysed.” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kane, giving more detailed information in this regard, said that the US Army has used 5,000 pound ‘penetrator’ (piercing) weapons on underground storage bases that keep coastal security cruise missiles.
He said, “We are continuing to search and destroy mine storage facilities, naval ammunition depots and underwater assets, including more than 120 ships and 44 minesweepers. We are flying further east and penetrating deeper into Iranian airspace to neutralize unilaterally attack positions; thus we are extending our forces beyond Iran’s own borders.” Destroying the ability to show.”
Pentagon officials stressed that America’s operations are ongoing and its capabilities are constantly growing. He described the attacks as an ongoing effort to decisively weaken Iran’s military infrastructure and limit its ability to attack U.S. forces or regional allies.
The development comes amid rising tension and conflict, which began on February 28. That day, Iran’s 86-year-old supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint military strikes by the US and Israel. Subsequently, Iran retaliated by targeting Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries and in Israel, causing blockage of waterways and affecting international energy markets and global economic stability. Due to the ongoing conflict in the region, Iran has almost completely closed the Strait of Hormuz; This strait is an extremely important transit route for global energy supplies. Following the death of Ali Khamenei, the former leader’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed the new supreme leader of the Islamic Republic.
Also read: Iran attacked America’s F-35 fighter jet for the first time: report