The United States military says it has sunk more than 30 Iranian naval vessels and targeted key missile and space command facilities as the conflict with Iran continues to intensify.
According to U.S. officials, the strikes included the destruction of a large Iranian drone carrier that was attacked at sea late Thursday as part of ongoing operations against Iran’s naval fleet.
U.S. Admiral Brad Cooper described the vessel as roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier and confirmed that it had been set ablaze during the attack.
The ship, identified as the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, is a converted container vessel equipped with a runway designed for launching drones.
American forces also deployed B-2 stealth bombers to drop powerful bunker-busting bombs on deeply buried ballistic missile launchers within Iran.
In addition, the U.S. military said it had targeted Iran’s equivalent of a space command center, which officials believe plays a role in coordinating threats against American interests.
Iranian authorities did not immediately acknowledge the attack, although Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the sinking of another Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, calling it an atrocity.
The incident reportedly occurred in the Indian Ocean while the ship was returning from a multinational naval exercise hosted by India. At least 87 crew members were killed, while 32 others were rescued by Sri Lankan authorities.
Meanwhile, Israel has launched a major wave of airstrikes against Iranian targets, including locations in Tehran and the western city of Kermanshah, where several missile bases are located.
Witnesses described the explosions in Tehran as powerful enough to shake buildings across the city.
The Israeli military claimed that its operations had destroyed much of Iran’s air defense systems and missile launch capabilities.
The conflict has widened across the region. Iran has launched missile and drone attacks against several countries hosting U.S. military bases, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
Fighting has also intensified in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have carried out airstrikes against areas linked to Hezbollah militants.
Officials say the escalating war has already resulted in nearly 1,400 deaths across the region, including six American soldiers.
