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The U.S. military has destroyed 17 Iranian naval vessels, including a submarine, and struck nearly 2,000 targets across Iran during the opening phase of the campaign ordered by President Donald Trump, according to U.S. officials.
United States Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the strikes have effectively halted Iran’s naval activity in key waterways across the region.
“Today, there is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman,” Cooper said in a video statement posted on X.
Officials say the strikes are targeting Iranian command-and-control systems, air defenses, missile and drone launch infrastructure, and other military facilities tied to attacks on U.S. forces and allies in the Middle East.
Early phases of the operation involved aircraft, naval forces, missiles and drones as the target list expanded. Military reporting indicates the campaign quickly surpassed 1,000 strikes during the first days of combat.
President Trump has said the pace and scope of the attacks have severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities.
The president previously said U.S. forces destroyed nine Iranian naval ships and “largely destroyed” the regime’s naval headquarters, arguing that Tehran’s ability to project power in the region has been significantly reduced.
While the administration has not provided a firm timeline for the operation, President Trump suggested the campaign could last about four weeks, depending on whether Iran continues retaliatory attacks.
Analysts say Iran may attempt to prolong the conflict through missile strikes, drone attacks and the use of regional proxy forces despite losses to its conventional military infrastructure.
The conflict has already spread beyond Iran’s borders. Iranian missile and drone strikes have targeted U.S. military locations and allied countries across the Middle East, according to the United States Department of State.
Embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have temporarily closed as security conditions deteriorate, and officials have reported drone attacks near the United States Embassy in Riyadh.