US says 5,500 targets hit in Iran as operation continues

WASHINGTON

The US has struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran, including dozens of naval vessels and missile facilities, as part of the ongoing operation, US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said on Wednesday.

"Every day, we're striking hard at Iranian ballistic missile and drones. To date, we have struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran, including more than 60 ships using a variety of precision weapon systems," Cooper said in a video message shared on the US social media company X.

Regional tensions have escalated since Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran that has killed more than 1,300 people, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.

Cooper said US strike operations have intensified in recent days, with waves of attacks launched from multiple directions.

"Just yesterday, we had strike waves nearly every hour from different locations and directions going into Iran. We also took out the last of four Soleimani-class warships. That's an entire class of Iranian ships now out of the fight."

His remarks came a day after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Tuesday will be the "most intense" day of US strikes in its ongoing military operation against Iran.

Cooper said the sustained strikes have significantly reduced Iran’s ability to retaliate.

US forces are also targeting Iran’s military production infrastructure in an effort to eliminate future threats, he added.

"We are methodically dismantling them by hitting Iranian missiles and drones as we also strike their defense industrial base. Just last night, our bomber force hit a large ballistic missile manufacturing facility as an example," Cooper said.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the war on Iran will end "soon," because strikes have left "practically nothing left to target."