Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said the US-led campaign against Iran is making “steady progress,” four days after the launch of Operation Epic Fury.
Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Caine said the operation is aimed at dismantling Iran’s ability to project military power beyond its borders.
US honors fallen service members
Caine began by naming four US service members killed during the conflict: Captain Cody Cork, Sergeant First Class Noah Tejans, Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor and Sergeant Declan Cody, all from the 103rd Sustainment Command of the US Army Reserve in Des Moines, Iowa.
Two additional names are being withheld pending notification of their families.
“To the families of our fallen, we grieve with you today,” Caine said.
Iran missile and drone launches sharply reduced
Caine said Iranian missile and drone launches had fallen sharply since the start of the conflict.
“Iran’s theater ballistic missile shots fired are down 86% from the first day of fighting, with a 23% decrease just in the last 24 hours,” he said.
He added that Iran’s one-way attack drone launches have dropped by 73% from the opening days of the campaign.
US gaining air superiority
According to Caine, US Central Command has established localized air superiority along Iran’s southern coast and is now expanding operations deeper into Iranian territory.
“We will now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory,” he said.
The campaign is shifting from long-range stand-off weapons to “stand-in precision strikes” using munitions such as GPS-guided JDAM bombs and Hellfire missiles.
More than 2,000 targets struck
Caine said US forces had struck more than 2,000 targets so far during the campaign.
He said more than 20 Iranian naval vessels had been destroyed, including a submarine, significantly degrading Iran’s naval presence in the region.
US submarine sinks Iranian warship
Caine confirmed that a US Navy submarine sank an Iranian warship with a Mark 48 torpedo.
He described it as the first time since World War Two that a US submarine had sunk an enemy combatant ship using a torpedo.
“This is an incredible demonstration of America’s global reach to hunt, find and kill,” he said.
Regional allies intercept Iranian attacks
Caine said several US partners in the region had intercepted Iranian missiles and drones.
Jordan shot down drones headed for Amman, Bahrain intercepted a drone targeting maritime infrastructure, Saudi Patriot batteries stopped ballistic missiles aimed at energy facilities, and the UAE neutralized drones targeting Abu Dhabi.
Qatar, he added, shot down two Iranian bombers approaching its territory.
Caine said US forces would continue strikes over the next 24 to 48 hours while assessing damage and targeting missile launchers and drone capabilities.
