Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an update on Operation Epic Fury at U.S Central Command in Tampa, Florida.
Hegseth held a press conference alongside U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper.
Hegseth said that in less than a week, the U.S. has “delivered nothing short of devastating, precise strikes, taking out the better part of Iran’s Navy, making it combat ineffective, neutralizing missile sites and launchers and establishing total dominance over the skies we fly over."
Admiral Brad Cooper, @CENTCOM Commander provided an update on Operation Epic Fury. pic.twitter.com/qG1YIzksKe
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 5, 2026
"Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation for the IRGC in Iran," says @SecWar.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 5, 2026
"Our commitment to our mission objectives only increases as our advantages continue to increase...We have only just begun to fight—and fight decisively." pic.twitter.com/sGKOhjAVEF
.@SECWAR "Our timeline is ours and ours alone to control.
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 5, 2026
AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO ENSURE the United States of America to achieve these objectives." pic.twitter.com/ij8DZWVx0V
Cooper said that President Donald Trump tasked CENTCOM to raze Iran's ballistic missile base so it can no longer threaten the U.S.
.@CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper: "@POTUS gave us another task — to raze or level Iran’s ballistic missile industrial base. We’re not just hitting what they have, were destroying their ability to rebuild...we will systemically dismantle Iran’s missile production capability… pic.twitter.com/xEZGVuoc3T
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 5, 2026
Cooper said that in the past three days, American bombers have struck almost 200 targets in Iran, including dropping dozens of 2,000-pound bombs targeting deeply buried missile launchers.
.@CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper: "In just the last 72 hours, America's bomber force has struck nearly 200 targets deep inside of Iran... In just the last hour, U.S. B-2 bombers dropped dozen of 2,000lb Penetrator bombs targeting deeply buried ballistic missile launchers." pic.twitter.com/GwsoQ37gJi
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 5, 2026
Cooper said that Iran's ballistic missile attacks have dropped by 90 percent, while drone attacks have dropped by 83 percent. The U.S. has also destroyed over 30 ships, he said.
.@CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper: "If I just look back over the last 24 hours of the operation compared to the where we were to start, ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90%... Drone attacks have decreased by 83%... we’re now up over 30 ships [destroyed]." pic.twitter.com/tWKgheNfKv
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 5, 2026
U.S. forces are the best trained warriors in the world. During the initial days of Operation Epic Fury, thousands of service members executed assigned missions with unmatched lethality and professionalism. pic.twitter.com/ASPBz9sGsq
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 5, 2026
American airpower remains unmatched. The B-52 Stratofortress has been utilized in every major conflict since 1965. During the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury, B-52s struck Iranian ballistic missile and command and control posts. pic.twitter.com/zhSqgA4m37
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 5, 2026