USA
Abayomi Susan
The US military has struck an Iranian drone carrier, setting it ablaze, as part of Operation Epic Fury, a coordinated effort with Israel to degrade Iran’s military capabilities. The vessel, roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier, was hit in a maritime engagement, with CENTCOM confirming the strike.
Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, stated that the US has destroyed over 30 Iranian warships and significantly reduced Iran’s missile and drone attack capabilities. The operation has led to a 90% decrease in ballistic missile attacks and an 83% decrease in drone attacks since its inception.
The strike is part of a broader campaign targeting Iran’s naval forces, missile launchers, and infrastructure. US bombers have hit nearly 200 targets inside Iran, including deeply buried ballistic missile launchers. The US aims to dismantle Iran’s missile production capability and prevent future threats.
Iran has retaliated with waves of drone and missile attacks on US military bases across the region. However, the US claims its forces have inflicted significant damage, with Iran’s military offensive campaign slowing considerably .
The US has also deployed a reverse-engineered Iranian drone design, LUCAS, which has been used to target Iranian forces. This move signals a shift towards scalable, expendable strike systems designed to overwhelm defenses.
The conflict has escalated across 14 countries, with rising casualties and disruptions to global logistics. The international community is urging restraint and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions.
