In a high-level briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine announced that Iranian ballistic missile attacks have plummeted by 90% since the start of “Operation Epic Fury.” Additionally, one-way attack drone launches have decreased by 83%, a trend the Pentagon attributes to both the destruction of launch sites and the effectiveness of allied air defense systems. To date, U.S. and partner forces have struck over 5,000 targets, utilizing heavy ordnance—including 2,000-pound GPS-penetrating bombs—to neutralize deeply buried missile launchers across Iran’s southern flank.
The operation is currently focused on three strategic pillars: the degradation of missile and drone stockpiles, the neutralization of the Iranian Navy, and the destruction of the country’s military-industrial complex. Military officials confirmed that over 50 Iranian naval vessels have been neutralized, including the sinking of a drone carrier ship and several mine-laying vessels. By striking command and control nodes and industrial centers “upstream,” the U.S. military aims to prevent future attacks on American personnel and regional partners before they can even be launched.
Defense Secretary Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. would continue to apply “overwhelming force” until Iran is decisively defeated and its nuclear ambitions are permanently neutralized. Despite the intensity of the campaign—with officials predicting that current strikes will be the most heavy to date—Hegseth insisted that the mission remains limited in scope to avoid “mission creep.” The primary objective remains a swift and decisive effort to strip Iran of its ability to threaten the region or develop nuclear weapons, ensuring the conflict does not become a protracted or endless engagement.
