U.S. Intensifies Air Campaign Against Iran with 5,500 Targets Hit
President Trump demands unconditional surrender as 'Operation Epic Fury' neutralizes Iranian naval assets and missile facilities.
The U.S. military has significantly escalated its air campaign against Iran under 'Operation Epic Fury,' with U.S. Central Command reporting strikes on over 5,500 targets within Iranian territory as of March 11, 2026. Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed that the operation has successfully eliminated the entire class of four Iranian Soleimani-class warships and destroyed 16 mine-laying vessels. The objective of the mission remains the dismantlement of Iran's power projection in the Strait of Hormuz and the neutralization of its ballistic missile and drone capabilities.
President Trump has formally expanded the military operation, announcing plans to destroy Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure while demanding an unconditional surrender. The President warned that any attempts to block oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz would be met with military force 'at a level never seen before.' Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth noted that Iranian retaliatory attacks have dropped sharply as U.S. strikes reach their highest intensity, utilizing advanced AI tools and Space Force integration.
Domestic tensions regarding the conflict surfaced in Washington D.C., where Brian McGinnis, a Marine Corps veteran and Green Party Senate candidate, was arrested after disrupting a Senate hearing in protest of the war. McGinnis sustained a broken arm during the incident, which occurred as he criticized the administration's 'full speed ahead' military policy in the Middle East. Despite the opposition, the Pentagon currently maintains that operations will continue until strategic threats are neutralized.
Key Points
- U.S. Central Command reports striking over 5,500 targets inside Iran, including the total destruction of the Soleimani-class warship fleet.
- President Trump has expanded the scope of 'Operation Epic Fury,' demanding Iran's unconditional surrender and targeting nuclear infrastructure.
- The Pentagon reports a significant decrease in Iranian drone and missile activity following intensive aerial bombardments.
- Advanced AI and Space Force assets are being utilized to target Iran's defense industrial base and ballistic missile facilities.
- Anti-war protests have reached the U.S. Senate, leading to the arrest of a Marine Corps veteran during a hearing on Middle East military action.