Ruptly
"The commander of US Central Command, Brad Cooper, said American forces have made 'undeniable progress' toward 'eliminating' Iran’s military capabilities, as the conflict entered its fifth week. In a video update on Operation Epic Fury, Cooper claimed US operations have significantly reduced Iran’s ability to project power beyond its borders, pointing to visible changes in its military activity. The time and location of footage released by US CENTCOM could not be independently verified. He noted that 'we don’t see their navy sailing' and 'we don’t see their aircraft flying,' adding that Iran’s air defence and missile systems 'have largely been destroyed.' Despite what he described as clear operational dominance, Cooper stressed that US forces remain vigilant, while praising personnel for their performance and resilience during the campaign. He also highlighted the scale of coordination across different branches of the military, describing an extensive regional defence network designed to counter incoming threats. According to Cooper, the US operates 'the most sophisticated and largest active air defence umbrella in the world' in the Middle East, aimed at intercepting missile and drone attacks. He said the campaign has involved sustained strikes targeting Iran’s drone, missile and naval capabilities, with coordinated efforts from naval, air and ground forces. “Our naval forces have launched waves upon waves of cruise missiles,” he said, adding that air units have conducted a high volume of strikes, supported by refuelling operations, while ground forces have carried out long-range attacks and reinforced air defences. "Our Space Force has given us the ultimate high ground, delivering space superiority, which has been a critical enabler in this fight," he added. The remarks come as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to escalate following strikes launched on February 28, with Tehran responding through missile and drone attacks targeting US and allied assets across the region. "
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