In a press conference at the Pentagon today, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine provided key updates on Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing U.S.-led campaign against Iran that began February 28. Caine highlighted significant progress in degrading Tehran's military capabilities, emphasizing recent airstrikes and reductions in Iranian attacks.
Caine reported that U.S. forces have struck over 5,000 targets in Iran since the operation's launch.
He detailed recent bombings by U.S. Strategic Command's B-2 stealth bombers, which dropped dozens of 2,000-pound GPS-guided bunker-busters on deeply buried underground missile sites and drone production facilities.
"We are attacking missile production facilities that will take years before they can project power beyond Iran's borders again," Caine stated, demonstrating the long-term impact on Iran's offensive reach.
Additional highlights from the briefing include:
- A 90% decline in Iranian ballistic missile attacks and an 83% drop in one-way attack drone launches since the campaign started.
- U.S. forces have destroyed more than 50 Iranian naval vessels.
- Ongoing strikes against Iranian mine-laying vessels in the Gulf by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to secure shipping lanes.
- U.S. and allied forces are intercepting Iranian drones using fighter jets and attack helicopters.
Caine presented an updated map during the briefing, illustrating expanded U.S. operations inland and along Iran's coasts.
