The U.S. Military has struck over 15,000 targets in Iran since joint operations with Israel began, according to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Hegseth. The assertion, made Friday, came as Iran continues to disrupt commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting concerns over global oil supplies.
Hegseth stated that Iranian missile capabilities have been significantly degraded, with a 90 percent reduction in missile volume and a 95 percent decrease in one-way attack drone activity. He further claimed that Iran’s entire ballistic missile production capacity has been “functionally defeated and destroyed,” though this assessment remains unconfirmed.
Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine emphasized the threat posed by Iran to commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil transport. “Iran has the capability to harm friendly forces in commercial shipping,” Caine said, adding that targeting Iran’s minelaying capabilities – including naval bases and depots – is a priority for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The developments follow a series of attacks on vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, with at least a dozen incidents confirmed since the start of the conflict. On March 1st, an oil tanker ignoring the closure of the strait was reported on fire. Ships have largely stopped traversing the strait, with at least 150 tankers carrying crude oil, liquified natural gas, and oil products anchored in Gulf waters as of Sunday, March 15th, according to Reuters.
The potential disruption to oil supplies has already impacted global markets, with prices exceeding $100 a barrel. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned tankers that no ship will be allowed passage through the strait, though this has not been formally confirmed. The U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated the U.S. Navy could provide escorts for oil tankers, but no such operation has been publicly announced.
CENTCOM reported Thursday that the U.S. Military had struck 6,000 targets inside Iran since the beginning of the war on February 28th. A U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, resulting in four deaths, though CENTCOM stated the crash was not due to hostile fire.
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s fresh Supreme Leader, released a statement through state media asserting Iran should continue to leverage its control over the Strait of Hormuz and vowed to continue attacks on targets in Gulf Arab nations. The U.S. And Israel have rejected calls for diplomatic solutions, according to sources cited by Reuters.
The conflict has also seen escalating violence in other areas. In Lebanon, the death toll from Israeli attacks has climbed to 773, according to local authorities. Israel has issued evacuation warnings for an industrial zone in Iran’s Tabriz. Attacks have also been reported in Dubai, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
