LIVE: Hegseth and Caine hold a briefing on Iran at the Pentagon
TL;DR
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine briefed reporters on the 13th day of Operation Epic Fury, declaring that U.S. and Israeli forces have struck over 15,000 targets, rendered Iran's conventional military combat ineffective, and permanently disabled its ballistic missile production capacity.
⚡ Operation Epic Fury: Air Dominance 3 insights
Over 15,000 targets struck in 13 days
U.S. and Israeli air forces have conducted more than 1,000 strikes daily, with today marking the highest volume of sorties and bomber pulses yet achieved over Iran and Tehran.
Iran's air defenses completely neutralized
Iranian air defenses, air force, and navy have been rendered combat ineffective, allowing allied fighters and bombers to operate persistently over Iranian territory with impunity.
Missile and drone volume reduced by over 90%
Iranian missile launch capacity has dropped 90% and one-way attack drone activity decreased 95% through sustained interdiction of launchers and stockpiles.
🏭 Industrial Base & Regime Decapitation 3 insights
Ballistic missile production permanently disabled
Every company, factory line, and industrial complex involved in ballistic missile component production has been destroyed, eliminating Iran's ability to manufacture new weapons.
Supreme Leader wounded and in hiding
The new Supreme Leader is reportedly injured and disfigured, issuing written statements without video or audio while regime leadership has gone underground into bunkers.
Defense innovation centers systematically dismantled
Military plants, defense companies, and weapons warehouses across Iran are being targeted to prevent future reconstitution of capabilities.
🌊 Maritime Security & Force Operations 4 insights
Iranian Navy eliminated as fighting force
The entire Iranian Navy, including all Solommani-class warships armed with anti-ship missiles, has been sunk or destroyed in under two weeks.
Strait of Hormuz remains contested
Iran continues to threaten commercial shipping and hold the strait hostage, though U.S. forces are prioritizing strikes on mine-laying vessels and naval depots to restore freedom of navigation.
Historic first use of Precision Strike Missiles
Army and Marine artillery units fired the first Precision Strike Missiles ever used in combat, sinking multiple ships including a submarine using ATACMS and HIMARS from outside Iranian territory.
KC-135 tanker crashes in non-hostile incident
A KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed over western Iraq during a combat mission, resulting in casualties in an accident not caused by hostile or friendly fire, with recovery operations ongoing.
Bottom Line
The United States and Israel have achieved complete air and naval dominance over Iran through Operation Epic Fury, systematically eliminating Tehran's ability to produce missiles or project power while maintaining maximum pressure until Iran's military capabilities are permanently disabled.
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