US, Israel launch massive assault on Iran as region erupts in retaliation
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) says more than 50,000 American troops, 200 fighter jets and two aircraft carriers are involved in ongoing joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, marking the largest US military buildup in the Middle East in a generation.
CENTCOM Commander Gen. Brad Cooper said nearly 2,000 targets have been hit with more than 2,000 munitions since the operation began four days ago. Seventeen Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed, he added, claiming Tehran’s ability to strike back is weakening.
Iran has retaliated with over 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones, targeting Israel and US-linked sites across the Gulf. Six US service members were killed in a strike on a base in Kuwait.
$2 billion in US military losses
According to compiled estimates, Iran has damaged nearly $2 billion worth of US military assets. Among the losses: a $1.1 billion early warning radar system in Qatar, three F-15E fighter jets lost in a friendly fire incident in Kuwait, and key radar and satellite communication systems in Bahrain and the UAE.
Iran has struck at least seven US military sites across the region, including bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and the UAE. US diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE were also targeted.
Gulf states on high alert
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed nine drones that entered its airspace. Qatar announced it dismantled two alleged espionage and sabotage cells linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, arresting 10 suspects.
Meanwhile, Iran denied carrying out a reported drone attack on Oman, calling the Gulf state a “friend and neighbor.”
The escalation follows large-scale US-Israeli strikes launched Saturday that reportedly killed nearly 800 people in Iran, including senior military officials. Tehran has vowed continued retaliation as the conflict intensifies across the region.
