US hits nearly 2,000 Iranian targets in less than 100 hours: CENTCOM

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets in under 100 hours during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), said early Wednesday, highlighting the intensity of the military campaign against Tehran.

“Our military in the Middle East is undertaking an unprecedented operation to eliminate Iran's ability to threaten Americans, as they've been doing for nearly half a century,” Cooper said, adding that more than "50,000 troops, 200 fighters, two aircraft carriers, and bombers" from the US are participating in the operation.

Noting that additional capabilities en route, Cooper described the buildup as "the largest buildup by the U.S. in the Middle East in a generation."

"We continue with 24/7 strikes into Iran from seabed to space and cyberspace," he added.

The US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Saturday, killing dozens of senior officials, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Tehran has vowed retaliation, threatening to target regional countries that host US military bases, including the Kurdistan Region.

Iranian media reported early Wednesday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had conducted three ground operations in the Kurdistan Region and Kuwait and launched 230 drones targeting opposition groups, adding that Tehran’s forces would continue to punish these groups.

This comes as the Kurdistan Region continued to face attacks early Wednesday, mostly in Erbil province, though nearly all were intercepted by defense systems, preventing significant damage or casualties.

However, according to Cooper, the US has severely degraded Iran’s air defenses, destroyed hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones, and continues to target mobile missile launchers.

"Thus far, we've destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine that now has a hole in its side," he said, adding that Iran has for decades "harassed international shipping," and "today, there's not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman."

In retaliation, Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones, which Cooper said are “indiscriminately targeting civilians.”

He noted that despite these attacks, Iran’s offensive capacity is declining while US combat power continues to build, expressing confidence that they will "absolutely" achieve their "military objectives."