U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursday that American forces “control the skies” over Iran and released video it says documents fresh strikes aimed at degrading Tehran’s mobile missile launch capabilities. The command said the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is conducting around‑the‑clock operations in support of Operation Epic Fury, including maritime‑launched strikes. Officials and media reporting place the operation in its first week, with at least 1,230 reported fatalities in Iran and six U.S. service members killed in Kuwait. CENTCOM characterized the campaign as an effort to destroy Iran’s ability to reconstitute missile and naval assets.
Key Takeaways
- CENTCOM released footage on Thursday showing what it describes as precision strikes on Iranian mobile missile launchers and a large Iranian vessel described by the command as a drone carrier.
- Adm. Brad Cooper said U.S. forces have engaged more than 30 Iranian ships and that the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is operating continuously in support of Operation Epic Fury.
- President Trump and senior U.S. officials said the campaign aims to degrade Iran’s ballistic missile industrial base and sustain air superiority over Iranian airspace.
- Independent tallies and media reporting put Iranian deaths from the wider campaign at about 1,230 people; six U.S. service members were reported killed in Kuwait during the hostilities.
- Global effects include a severe slowdown of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, crude price increases of more than 15% since the fighting began, and NATO increasing its ballistic missile defense posture.
- Diplomatic responses have been mixed: China and several European leaders urged de‑escalation while some U.S. partners allowed basing access and evacuation support for nationals.
Background
The actions follow a U.S.–Israeli operation in Iran that began earlier in the week; CENTCOM and Israeli forces have said they are striking command centers, missile launchers and other military infrastructure. U.S. officials describe the campaign as Operation Epic Fury and say it builds on prior actions, including a June 2025 campaign known as Operation Midnight Hammer that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.
U.S. leadership has framed the campaign as aimed at denying Tehran the capability to strike regionally and to rebuild missile forces. Congressional and public debate has accompanied the military effort: the House voted on Thursday to allow the administration to continue the operation after a bid to curtail the president’s authority failed.
Regional states and international organizations have responded with emergency measures: evacuations of foreign nationals, closed or redirected shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and heightened air defenses across several countries. Humanitarian organizations have warned about mounting civilian harm inside Iran amid sustained aerial and naval strikes.
Main Event
CENTCOM published a video Thursday showing strikes it says were launched from sea platforms to locate and destroy mobile missile launchers and other regime targets. The command posted images from the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and described around‑the‑clock flight operations supporting the effort. CENTCOM also asserted that an Iranian vessel described as a drone carrier was struck and caught fire.
In a CENTCOM briefing at headquarters in Tampa, Adm. Brad Cooper said U.S. forces have engaged “over 30 ships” and that the president has tasked forces to degrade Iran’s ballistic missile industrial base to prevent rapid reconstitution. The command attributed many of its actions to coordinated air and maritime strikes conducted with coalition partners.
Separately, allied and partner statements describe tactical developments including new long‑range Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) deployed in the campaign and Israel reporting large‑scale strikes in Tehran and other internal Iranian targets. Israel’s military also released footage it says shows an Israeli fighter shooting down an Iranian aircraft over Tehran.
Hostile acts and counterattacks have been reported across the region. Iran has launched missiles and drones at multiple countries, and several states reported intercepts or limited damage. The disruption has produced immediate economic effects, most visibly a sharp reduction in tanker transits through the Strait of Hormuz and a jump in oil prices.
Analysis & Implications
Operationally, CENTCOM’s maritime‑launched campaign aims to exploit the reach of carrier air wings and naval fires to attack mobile missile systems that are difficult to fix from the air alone. If accurate, claims of sea‑launched strikes and PrSM use indicate a shift toward layered, longer‑range fires designed to limit Iran’s ability to reposition or rebuild launch platforms.
Strategically, the campaign raises escalation risks. Strikes on Iranian territory, coupled with Iran’s cross‑border and regional responses, have widened the conflict footprint and triggered allied defensive steps — including NATO’s ramped‑up ballistic missile posture and evacuation planning by several European governments. The risk of miscalculation grows as more states move assets into the theater.
Economically, the near‑halt of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a conduit for roughly one‑fifth of global LNG and a large share of crude shipments — is already pressuring energy markets. Prolonged disruption would likely accelerate price volatility and force shippers and consuming states to reroute supply at higher cost.
Politically, the operation complicates alliance management. Some partners have openly supported U.S. objectives or provided basing and evacuation assistance; others — including China and certain European leaders — called for restraint and warned against widening the conflict. Domestically in the U.S., the operation has become a point of contention in Congress and public debate over war powers and strategic goals.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Reported Figure | Reported By |
|---|---|---|
| Reported Iranian fatalities (campaign) | ~1,230 | The Associated Press (media) |
| U.S. service members killed in Kuwait | 6 | Media reports (official briefings) |
| Warship sinking off Sri Lanka (March 4) | At least 87 reported killed; ship named Frigate Dena with ~130 aboard per Iranian statement | National leaders, media |
| Ships claimed taken out (administration figure) | 24 in three days (administration statement) | President’s public remarks |
The table above juxtaposes official and media‑reported figures; numbers vary by source and by the methodology used to verify battlefield effects. Casualty and strike counts reported early in a campaign are often revised as independent investigators, humanitarian groups, and state actors provide more data. Analysts caution that figures released by combatant commands and political leaders are authoritative for intent but may lag or diverge from independent verification.
Reactions & Quotes
U.S. military and political leaders framed the strikes as necessary to undermine Tehran’s strike capabilities and sustain allied defense. Excerpts below capture official framing and humanitarian concern.
“We are finding and destroying these threats with lethal precision,”
CENTCOM (public statement)
This line accompanied CENTCOM’s release of imagery and video of strikes; the command presented the footage as evidence of maritime‑launched interdictions of mobile launchers and naval targets.
“Some people will die. When you go to war, some people will die,”
President Donald Trump (interview)
The president acknowledged domestic risks tied to wartime operations while emphasizing the administration’s objectives to degrade Iran’s military capacity. His remarks also framed political messaging around mission scope and duration.
“The military escalation in the Middle East is igniting a dangerous chain reaction across the region, with potentially devastating consequences for civilians,”
Mirjana Spoljaric (ICRC President)
The International Committee of the Red Cross emphasized civilian protection concerns, citing steady explosions and displacement inside Iran and warning of mounting humanitarian costs.
Unconfirmed
- The exact classification and size of the Iranian vessel CENTCOM called a “drone carrier” and the full inventory of drones aboard remain publicly unverified.
- Counts of ships struck or destroyed differ between CENTCOM briefings, presidential statements, and independent open‑source tracking; independent confirmation of the exact number is pending.
- Casualty and passenger figures for the Iranian warship struck off Sri Lanka (datasets vary between ~87 reported killed and statements alleging ~130 aboard) have not been fully reconciled by neutral investigators.
Bottom Line
The CENTCOM video and accompanying briefings illustrate a U.S. emphasis on maritime‑launched precision fires and a campaign goal of denying Iran rapid reconstitution of missile and naval strike capabilities. The administration frames these actions as targeted and necessary to protect partners and degrade threats, while humanitarian organizations warn of rising civilian tolls.
Key near‑term items to watch: independent verification of strike and casualty counts, whether allied support expands or fractures, trajectories for Strait of Hormuz traffic and energy markets, and diplomatic moves by major powers (including China, European states and NATO) that could either constrain or amplify the conflict. The risk of escalation remains material as combatants and third‑party states respond to battlefield developments.