US Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper provided an update on Operation Epic Fury on Wednesday afternoon, stating that US forces are continuing to carry out extensive strikes against Iranian targets.
"In short, U.S. forces continue delivering devastating combat power against the Iranian regime," Cooper said in a briefing.
He said the operation remains focused on "very clear military objectives in eliminating Iran's ability to project power against Americans and against its neighbors."
According to Cooper, US forces have struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran since the start of the campaign, including more than 60 ships.
"Every day we're striking hard at Iranian ballistic missile and drones," he said.
Cooper added that US forces conducted frequent strike waves over the past day. "Just yesterday, we had strike waves nearly every hour from different locations and directions going into Iran," he said.
He also said that US forces destroyed the last of four Soleimani-class warships. "That's an entire class of Iranian ships now out of the fight," Cooper stated.
Describing the campaign, Cooper said US strikes have been "unpredictable, dynamic, and decisive."
He noted that Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks dropped significantly after the first 24 hours of the campaign but said Iranian forces continue targeting civilians in Gulf countries while launching attacks from populated areas inside Iran.
"Iranian forces continue to deliberately target innocent civilians in Gulf countries while hiding behind their own people as they launch attacks from highly populated cities in Iran," he said.
Cooper said the operation is targeting both immediate threats and future capabilities. "It's not just about what's shooting at us today, it's also about eliminating the threat in the future," he said.
He cited a strike on a large ballistic missile manufacturing facility as an example.
Cooper also described naval strikes carried out during the campaign, including attacks on Iranian ships docked at Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. "Here you see an Iranian Jamaran class warship, a large patrol ship, a drone smuggling vessel, and four other surface combatants docked at Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman the day before we launched Operation Epic Fury," he said, describing imagery presented during the briefing.
"Here's the same pier four days later, all ships taken out of action," he added.
He also referenced strikes on Iranian naval vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.
"Here you see two Iranian surface combatants docked at an Iranian naval base near the Strait of Hormuz just hours into the campaign," Cooper said.
"And here's what they look like three days later, engulfed in flames after we struck them with a precision weapon," he added.
Cooper said the operation is also aimed at ending Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. "Our mission is to end their ability to project power and harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
He said the campaign includes sustained air operations. "From the air, we've achieved a concentration of air power with back-to-back waves of advanced fighters creating constant pressure on the enemy every single day," Cooper stated.
Cooper also highlighted cooperation with regional partners. "We continue to coordinate closely and effectively with Israel in this very large operation, and we are also coordinating and serving side-by-side with all of our partners in the Middle East," he said.
He said new technologies are being used during the operation. "Our warfighters are leveraging a variety of advanced AI tools," Cooper said.
He explained that these tools help process large volumes of data quickly. "These systems help us sift through vast amounts of data in seconds, so our leaders can cut through the noise and make smarter decisions faster than the enemy can react," he said.
"Humans will always make final decisions on what to shoot and what not to shoot and when to shoot," he added.
Cooper said the US military branches involved in the operation are performing "superbly" and that US forces have established air superiority across large areas of Iran.
"I assess that we are clearly exercising air superiority over vast swaths of Iran," he said.
He also noted the role of the US Space Force in the campaign. "Our space superiority has been a critical enabler to this fight," Cooper said.
"Unseen by the world, the Space Force is doing two things. First, they're degrading Iranian capability, and second, they're helping to protect American forces," he added.
Despite what he described as significant progress, Cooper said forces remain alert.
He concluded by praising the personnel involved in the operation. "I just could not be prouder of our Operation Epic Fury team, and I know the American people share that same pride," Cooper said.