US Sinks 30 Iranian Ships, Targets Missile Factories as ‘Operation Epic Fury’ Enters New Phase

TAMPA, March 6 — The United States has sunk more than 30 Iranian ships amid ongoing conflict, while Iran’s ballistic missile and drone attacks have significantly declined, a senior US military official said Thursday.

“We’ve now sunk over 30 ships, and in just the past few hours, we struck an Iranian drone carrier roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier—it’s currently on fire,” Admiral Brad Cooper told reporters.

Cooper, head of US Central Command overseeing American forces in the Middle East, added that “ballistic missile attacks by Iran have dropped 90 per cent since day one, and drone attacks have decreased by 83 per cent.”

The US launched a major air campaign against Iran alongside Israeli forces on February 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate with waves of missiles and drones across the region.

Destroying Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and naval forces are among Washington’s primary objectives under the operation, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.” Cooper noted that the campaign also aims to “systematically dismantle Iran’s ballistic missile industrial base” to prevent future attacks.

“As we move into the next phase, we will target Iran’s missile production capabilities to ensure long-term security,” he said. — AFP