U.S. forces have struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, according to an operational update Wednesday from U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper — marking the most sweeping air campaign conducted against any nation since the Gulf War.

The strikes have included more than 60 Iranian naval vessels destroyed, among them the regime’s last Shahid Soleimani-class warships eliminated Tuesday, along with a Jamaran-class warship and several other surface combatant ships neutralized during the campaign’s opening days.

Cooper stated that the overarching goal of the operation is to end Iran’s ability to project military power and threaten international shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz — the narrow chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.

U.S. forces have already achieved air superiority over large portions of Iran, placing sustained pressure on the regime while systematically targeting missile systems, drones, and Iran’s defense-industrial infrastructure. According to CENTCOM, Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped sharply since the operation began, with American strikes described as “unpredictable, dynamic, and decisive.”

AI and Space Force: New Dimensions of Warfare

The campaign has incorporated advanced artificial intelligence tools that allow analysts to process battlefield data within seconds, helping commanders make faster operational decisions. Cooper emphasized that while AI assists in data analysis, human commanders retain all final targeting authority — a distinction the Pentagon has stressed throughout the campaign.

The U.S. Space Force has also played a significant role, disrupting Iranian communications and surveillance capabilities while protecting American forces engaged in active operations across the theater. Officials describe the integration of space and AI assets as central to the campaign’s speed and precision.

Iran Mines the Strait — Then Loses Its Mine-Laying Fleet

In a significant intelligence development, U.S. officials confirmed Tuesday that Iran had begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. While the number of mines deployed remains small and the full scope unclear, American forces responded swiftly — destroying 16 Iranian mine-laying boats before the operation could escalate, according to President Trump, who addressed the development in a brief phone interview with Axios on Wednesday.

CENTCOM separately issued a warning for civilians to avoid Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz being used for naval military operations, stating that facilities supporting military activity could lose protected civilian status under international law and become legitimate targets under the laws of armed conflict.

Despite suffering catastrophic losses, Cooper warned that Iran continues launching attacks against neighboring Gulf states while positioning military assets near civilian populations — a tactic analysts say is designed to complicate U.S. and Israeli targeting decisions.

Trump’s assessment drew attention for its lack of a specific end date, and U.S. military officials told reporters separately that no internal directive to cease operations had been issued — with planning continuing for at least two more weeks of strikes. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz struck a similar tone, stating that the war would continue “without any time limit, for as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives and decisively win the campaign.”

Israel: 95% Missile Capacity Drop Expected ‘Within Days’

On the Israeli front, the Israel Defense Forces has dropped more than 10,000 munitions on Iranian regime targets — three times the number used in the earlier 12-day conflict known as Operation Rising Lion. Israeli Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar confirmed to military leaders that neutralizing Iran’s remaining launch infrastructure remains the top priority.

“I want the war to be fought there, not here,” Bar said. “There should be no shooting, and the country must be able to keep functioning.”

Israel’s military believes Iran’s ability to launch ballistic missiles at the Jewish state could collapse by as much as 95% within days, according to senior Israeli Air Force officials who briefed the country’s political-security Cabinet. A security source told Channel 12 News that while some attacks may continue in the short term, Iran’s firing capability is expected to drop dramatically in the near term.

Life Under Sirens: Israel’s Home Front

Despite the military progress, life inside Israel remains tense. Millions of civilians continue to rush to bomb shelters as missile sirens sound across the country. Several Iranian missile launches were reported again Wednesday, including one intercepted over central Israel. No fatalities were reported, though several people were injured while running to shelters.

Israel’s Home Front Command has extended nationwide emergency restrictions through Saturday, keeping schools closed, limiting public gatherings near shelters, and restricting non-essential activity. The Israeli government also voted to extend a nationwide “special emergency situation” through March 26, granting authorities expanded powers to limit civilian movement and public gatherings while the campaign continues.

Analysts say that if missile fire declines to only occasional launches — similar to the cadence of previous attacks from Yemen’s Houthis — the Israeli economy could soon begin returning to near-normal conditions.

Trump-Netanyahu Call: Focused on Winning

On Tuesday, President Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump described the discussion as focused on “how much we are winning,” underscoring tight U.S.-Israel operational coordination as the campaign enters its third week. Trump separately criticized Israeli President Isaac Herzog for delays on Netanyahu’s pending pardon, calling the procedural holdups unnecessary — a rare public friction point between Washington and Jerusalem amid an otherwise unified wartime posture.