US Announces Destruction of Over 10,000 Iranian Targets in Major Offensive

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said intelligence showed Iran’s nuclear program was severely damaged by recent US strikes. (AP)

US Announces Destruction of Over 10,000 Iranian Targets in Major Offensive

The United States has announced what it describes as a sweeping and highly consequential military campaign against Iran, with top officials claiming extensive destruction of the country’s military infrastructure.

Speaking during a White House Cabinet meeting, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said American forces had struck more than 10,000 military targets across Iran. According to him, the operation significantly weakened Iran’s defense capabilities and disrupted key components of its military structure.

Hegseth stated that over 150 Iranian naval vessels were destroyed during the offensive, effectively crippling the country’s maritime forces. He further revealed that underground military facilities were among the targets hit, adding that Iran’s defense industrial base had been left “in shambles.”

In what he described as a decisive blow, the Defense Secretary also announced that the commander of Iran’s naval arm under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed in a single overnight operation. The strike, he said, has left Iran without both a functional navy and the leadership required to rebuild it in the near term.

“Overnight, not only do they not have a navy — they no longer have a Navy commander,” Hegseth declared, emphasizing the scale and speed of the military action.

While U.S. officials have portrayed the operation as a strategic success, there has been no immediate confirmation or response from Iranian authorities regarding the claims. Independent verification of the extent of the damage and casualties also remains unavailable.

The development marks a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran, raising concerns among global observers about the potential for broader regional instability. Analysts warn that such large-scale military actions could provoke retaliation or further intensify the already fragile security situation in the Middle East.