U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces struck and set ablaze an Iranian drone carrier, the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, as part of “Operation Epic Fury.” Admiral Brad Cooper described the vessel as being roughly the size of a World War II-era aircraft carrier and confirmed it remains engulfed in flames.
The U.S. military has now destroyed over 30 Iranian naval vessels, including a frigate recently sunk by a torpedo from the USS Charlotte. Officials stated that the campaign has significantly degraded Iran’s offensive capabilities, with ballistic missile launches dropping by 90%. The U.S. remains committed to systematically dismantling the Iranian navy and its missile production infrastructure.