CENTCOM Chief Declares Iranian Conventional Forces "Eliminated" After 13,000 Strikes

Admiral Brad Cooper announces the successful dismantling of Iran's conventional military after 13,000 strikes in the 2026 war. Read the full CENTCOM report.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 8:17 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Times of Israel

The Final Assessment of Operation Epic Fury

In a formal video statement released from CENTCOM headquarters, Admiral Brad Cooper provided a definitive assessment of the military campaign that began on February 28, 2026. Cooper asserted that the primary strategic objective—eliminating the Iranian regime's ability to project conventional force beyond its borders—has been "clearly accomplished." According to the Admiral, the systematic destruction of Iran's military infrastructure over the last 40 days has rendered its conventional forces, once built at the cost of billions of dollars, effectively non-functional. This statement marks the transition from active offensive operations to a period of vigilant monitoring under the newly established two-week ceasefire.

A Generational Defeat of Conventional Assets

The scale of the "generational military defeat" described by Cooper is reflected in the high volume of strikes conducted during Operation Epic Fury. U.S. and Israeli forces carried out more than 13,000 targeted strikes against Iranian military installations, command centers, and production facilities. These operations were designed to hollow out the Iranian military-industrial base, specifically targeting ballistic missile manufacturing, drone assembly plants, and naval shipyards. Cooper noted that the intensity of these strikes, supported by thousands of combat sorties, has fundamentally altered the regional balance of power, leaving the Iranian military in a state of paralysis.

The Total Degradation of the Iranian Navy and Air Force

A key component of the CENTCOM report focused on the near-total elimination of Iran's naval and air capabilities. By late March, military intelligence estimated that over 90% of Iran’s largest naval vessels had been destroyed, with its tactical fighter wings grounded due to the loss of airfield infrastructure and maintenance capacity. Admiral Cooper stated that the regime's ability to challenge maritime security in the Persian Gulf or launch sustained aerial incursions has been neutralized. This systemic dismantling was intended to ensure that Iran cannot rapidly reconstitute its combat capability, even as it enters a period of diplomatic negotiations.