LIVE: Hegseth and Caine hold a briefing on Iran
TL;DR
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine detailed Operation Epic Fury, a 38-day campaign using less than 10% of US combat power to decimate Iran's military, destroy its nuclear and defense industrial bases, and force a ceasefire under which Iran must dismantle its nuclear program and accept strict terms after suffering catastrophic leadership losses and battlefield defeat.
⚔️ Operation Epic Fury Military Campaign 3 insights
Rapid dismantling of Iranian military power
Central Command destroyed one of the world's largest militaries in 38 days using less than 10% of US combat power, rendering Iran combat ineffective for years to come.
Massive precision strike operations
US forces struck over 13,000 targets including 4,000 dynamic targets, conducting more than 10,000 missions with 18 round-trip bomber flights from the United States.
Limited US footprint and casualties
Approximately 50,000 American warfighters intercepted 1,700 ballistic missiles and drones while suffering 13 killed in action during the entire campaign.
🎯 Destruction of Iranian Military Capabilities 4 insights
Complete naval annihilation
The Iranian Navy lost 90% of its regular fleet including all major surface combatants with 150 ships sunk, plus half of IRGC Navy attack boats and 95% of naval mines destroyed.
Elimination of air and missile defenses
US forces destroyed 80% of Iran's air defense systems (500+ targets), 450 ballistic missile storage facilities, and 800 drone storage facilities while establishing total air superiority.
Devastation of defense industrial base
Approximately 90% of weapons factories were destroyed including all Shahed drone production facilities, 80% of missile facilities, and 20+ naval production sites, preventing military reconstitution for years.
Crippling of nuclear infrastructure
Nearly 80% of Iran's nuclear industrial base was struck, with remaining nuclear material buried and monitored 24/7 under terms requiring removal of all unauthorized material.
🕊️ Ceasefire Terms and Strategic Outcome 3 insights
Regime capitulation after leadership decapitation
Iran accepted the ceasefire under overwhelming pressure after its top leadership was systematically eliminated including the Supreme Leader, Defense Minister, IRGC commander, and numerous high-ranking officials.
Permanent nuclear prohibition enforced
The agreement ensures Iran will never possess nuclear weapons, with all unauthorized nuclear material to be removed and current stockpiles buried under constant surveillance.
Economic infrastructure spared by choice
President Trump spared Iran's power plants, bridges, and oil infrastructure despite having the capability to destroy the economy in minutes, choosing mercy after Iran accepted terms.
🎖️ Personnel Sacrifices and Heroic Rescue 2 insights
Daring combat rescue operation
A 14-hour joint force operation successfully rescued two downed Air Force pilots via daylight thunder run and midnight raid deep into Iranian territory with zero American casualties during the extraction.
Honoring fallen service members
The officials honored 13 American service members killed in action, emphasizing their sacrifice achieved historic retribution for decades of Iranian terror attacks against US troops.
Bottom Line
The United States demonstrated overwhelming military dominance by destroying Iran's ability to project power or develop nuclear weapons in under six weeks using a fraction of total combat power, establishing that direct confrontation with American forces results in catastrophic defeat while securing enforceable terms that permanently block Iran's nuclear ambitions.
More from Reuters
View all
LIVE: Trump meets Zelenskiy on sidelines of NATO summit
During a NATO summit meeting with President Zelenskiy, Donald Trump emphasized preventing Iranian nuclear weapons through maximum pressure, claimed both Putin and Zelenskiy desire to end the Ukraine war immediately, and proposed licensing Patriot missile production to European allies to accelerate defense capabilities.
LIVE: Body of Iran's late Supreme Leader Khamenei arrives in Iraq
The video depicts funeral proceedings for Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Iraq, featuring Shiite religious rituals, Quran recitations, and poetic eulogies framing his death as martyrdom while emphasizing cross-border religious solidarity between Iranian and Iraqi mourners.
LIVE: Scene after columns in NYC high-rise buckle
A 37-story Manhattan high-rise undergoing office-to-residential conversion experienced severe structural failure when two columns buckled on the 21st floor, prompting emergency evacuations of thousands and establishment of a frozen zone as engineers race to prevent collapse.
LIVE: French President Emmanuel Macron visits Syria
French President Emmanuel Macron visits Damascus to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and announce French economic engagement, including €230 million in investments targeting infrastructure, energy, and water sectors as Syria emerges from isolation.