U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that American forces had sunk nine Iranian naval vessels during ongoing combat operations, describing the strikes as part of an intensified campaign against Iran’s military infrastructure. In a post on X, Trump said the ships included several “large and important” vessels and added that Iran’s naval headquarters had been “largely destroyed” in a separate हमला. He warned that additional strikes were imminent, stating that remaining targets would soon “be floating at the bottom of the sea.”
Officials from U.S. Central Command confirmed earlier that a Jamaran-class corvette had been hit at the outset of what they called Operation Epic Fury. According to their statement, the vessel was struck near a pier in Chabahar and was in the process of sinking in the Gulf of Oman. The statement also echoed a message attributed to the president urging Iranian military personnel, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to lay down their arms and abandon their posts.
CENTCOM reported that three U.S. service members were killed in action during the العمليات, while five others sustained serious injuries. The casualties mark a significant development in what has rapidly escalated into a broader military confrontation.
In parallel operations, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers carried out strikes on Iran’s hardened ballistic missile infrastructure, deploying 2,000-pound bombs against fortified targets. These strikes were described as part of a coordinated effort to dismantle Iran’s offensive capabilities.
The U.S. military also pushed back against Iranian claims that it had successfully targeted the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. CENTCOM dismissed the assertion as false, stating that missiles launched by Iran “didn’t even come close” and that the carrier continues to conduct flight operations without disruption.
The Lincoln is deployed alongside the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group, forming what officials describe as the largest concentration of U.S. naval power in the Middle East in decades.
According to CENTCOM, the assault began early Saturday morning with the هدف of crippling what it called “the Iranian regime’s security apparatus.” Primary targets included IRGC command centers, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and key military airfields.
One of the most consequential claims to emerge from the operation involves Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. His compound was reportedly struck during the حملة, and a senior Israeli official told Reuters that Khamenei was killed. Trump later appeared to confirm the claim, calling it a pivotal moment and suggesting it could open the door for political change داخل إيران.
Iranian authorities have not fully confirmed those claims, but the humanitarian toll from the strikes is already significant. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported at least 201 people killed and more than 700 injured across the country.
As conflicting narratives continue to emerge, the situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalation across the region.
