The U.S. military has struck more than 8,000 targets inside Iran since the start of the conflict, significantly degrading Tehran’s military capabilities, the head of U.S. Central Command said in an update Saturday.

Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads United States Central Command, described a sweeping campaign that has hit Iranian naval assets, missile systems and drone infrastructure over the course of just three weeks.

“So far, we’ve struck over 8,000 military targets, including 130 Iranian vessels, constituting the largest elimination of a navy over a three-week period since World War II,” Cooper said in a video statement.

The assessment comes as U.S. officials point to a noticeable drop in the intensity of Iranian retaliatory attacks, suggesting the sustained bombardment is beginning to erode Tehran’s ability to respond.

“My operational assessment continues to be: Iran’s combat capability is on a steady decline as our offensive strikes ramp up,” Cooper said.

The CENTCOM chief said U.S. forces have focused on dismantling Iran’s offensive arsenal, including “thousands of Iranian missiles” and advanced attack drones, while effectively neutralizing its naval presence in key waterways.

“Their navy is not sailing, their tactical fighters are not flying, and they’ve lost the ability to launch missiles and drones at the high rates seen at the beginning of the conflict,” Cooper said. “Our progress is obvious.”

The destruction of Iranian maritime forces — long used to harass commercial shipping and project power in the region — marks a significant shift in the balance of power, U.S. officials say.

Cooper added that American forces remain “on plan to eliminate Iran’s ability to project meaningful power outside its borders.”

At the same time, the U.S. has rapidly expanded its defensive posture across the region. Cooper said Washington has constructed what he described as “the most extensive air defense umbrella in the world” over the Middle East, aimed at protecting both U.S. assets and allied infrastructure from any remaining Iranian threats.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)