WATCH: Pentagon Releases Dramatic Footage Showing U.S. Forces Destroying Iranian Navy

The U.S. military released striking new footage Tuesday showing American forces systematically destroying major elements of Iran’s naval fleet, offering the public a rare look at the scale of the campaign unfolding across the Persian Gulf and nearby waters. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) published the video alongside a statement declaring that the strikes are aimed at dismantling Tehran’s ability to threaten international shipping lanes and destabilize the region.

“U.S. forces are degrading the Iranian regime’s ability to project power at sea and harass international shipping,” CENTCOM said. “For years, Iranian forces have threatened freedom of navigation in waters essential to American, regional and global security and prosperity.”

The newly released footage appears to show multiple Iranian vessels being struck and destroyed during ongoing operations tied to the joint U.S.-Israel military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, which has intensified dramatically in recent weeks. According to U.S. military officials, the maritime portion of the campaign has dealt a devastating blow to Iran’s naval capabilities.

CENTCOM reports that more than 30 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed or sunk since the operation began, including frigates, corvettes, and several specialized platforms used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. Among the most significant losses for Tehran was the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, a drone carrier that had been designed to launch unmanned aerial systems across the region.

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The vessel was reportedly struck and destroyed during the early stages of the campaign. The campaign has also taken aim at some of Iran’s most significant naval platforms.

The IRIS Makran, a large forward base ship used to support long-range operations, was severely damaged in American strikes, according to defense officials. Several Shahid Soleimani-class corvettes, among the most advanced vessels in Iran’s fleet, were also destroyed as U.S. forces sought to dismantle Tehran’s ability to operate effectively in regional waters.

American officials said Iranian naval activity across the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz had been largely curtailed. Some defense assessments indicate that Iran may now have few, if any, operational vessels remaining in key southern waters, a remarkable shift for a country that has spent decades building an asymmetric naval force intended to challenge the United States and its partners.

The effort has extended beyond ships themselves. U.S. strikes have also targeted infrastructure linked to Iran’s maritime operations, including vessels used to lay naval mines as well as weapons depots and storage facilities believed to support efforts to disrupt commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The narrow passageway remains one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, carrying roughly one-fifth of global seaborne oil. Iran has repeatedly threatened to block or interfere with traffic through the strait during periods of heightened tension, raising concerns among energy markets and Western governments about the risk of a major disruption to global supply.

Pentagon officials say the maritime campaign is designed to prevent that outcome. By damaging Iran’s fleet and the infrastructure that sustains it, American commanders say they aim to preserve freedom of navigation for commercial vessels passing through the region.

The naval strikes are part of a wider military operation known as Operation Epic Fury. U.S. defense officials say the campaign has also sharply reduced Iran’s missile and drone capabilities.

Recent intelligence assessments indicate that Iran’s ballistic missile launch capacity has been cut by roughly 90 percent. Multiple facilities believed to produce unmanned aerial vehicles have also been destroyed in coordinated strikes, officials say.

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