WASHINGTON, DC — The US military has escalated its operations against Iran’s naval threats, focusing on a broader range of targets including mines, drone boats, and torpedoes. This intensified campaign follows reports that American strikes have destroyed dozens of Iranian ships, further aiming to curtail **Iran’s ability to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz.
Expanding Strikes Beyond Warships
Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, confirmed on Monday that the military objectives of the current strike campaign go beyond just targeting Iran’s warships. The US is expanding its efforts to eliminate a range of Iran’s naval combat capabilities, which includes mines, drone boats, and torpedoes—tactical assets that are seen as critical to Iran’s strategic threats in the region.
“We’re also zeroed in on dismantling Iran’s decades-old threat to the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz,” Cooper said in a video statement. The US has launched numerous airstrikes on Iranian military sites, including those involved in producing and storing naval drones and torpedoes.
Recent Strikes and Targets
Over the weekend, US forces destroyed more than 90 military targets on Kharg Island, a vital Iranian site located about 300 miles from the Strait of Hormuz. Among the targets hit were storage bunkers for naval mines, which are key components of Iran’s maritime arsenal. Kharg Island is the hub of Iran’s oil sector, handling 90% of its crude exports.
While President Donald Trump noted that Iran’s oil infrastructure at Kharg Island was spared during the strikes, he warned that the US would reconsider its approach if Iran interferes with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime choke point.
Escalating Tensions and Attacks
In addition to Kharg Island, the US military has successfully destroyed over 100 Iranian naval vessels, according to Cooper. These strikes are part of Operation Epic Fury, which began on February 28 and has already led to the destruction or damage of more than 60 Iranian ships and 30 minelayers.
US forces used MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to sink multiple Iranian ships, including a submarine, said Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This aggressive strategy is a direct response to Iran’s ability to use covert and asymmetrical tactics rather than traditional surface combatants in the region.
Ongoing Conflict and Casualties
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. American and Israeli airstrikes have killed hundreds of people and wounded thousands more in Iran, while Iran’s missile and drone attacks have killed dozens in Israel and the Gulf states, according to local health ministries and media outlets.
Since the start of the conflict, at least 13 US service members have been killed, and over 140 have been wounded. The most recent casualties occurred on Thursday, when six US crew members died after their KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.
