Washington DC [US], March 21 (ANI): President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States would soon wrap up its military operations in Iran.
Trump posted on Truth Social outlining five objectives centered on degrading Iranian military capabilities and protecting U.S. allies in West Asia. He listed: (1) completely degrading Iranian missile capability, launchers and related systems; (2) destroying Iran’s defense industrial base; (3) eliminating their navy and air force, including anti-aircraft weaponry; (4) never allowing Iran to get close to nuclear capability and remaining able to react quickly and powerfully if that situation arises; and (5) protecting Middle Eastern allies including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and others.
“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not! If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them,” he added.
As the situation has escalated, US Central Command shared visuals from strikes on Iranian assets in posts on X, including attacks on the Esfahan Khomeynishahr drone production plant, which produced Shahed one-way attack drones. https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2035147339753824451?s=20 https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2035074369014174009?s=20
The US Department of War said thousands of Iranian targets were hit in Operation Epic Fury. US Central Command forces have damaged or sunk more than 120 Iranian naval vessels, including all 11 of their submarines.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said, “To the 50,000 service members supporting this mission, and their families, we are thinking about you, and we are beyond proud of your resolve and resiliency. You are the very best of our great nation.”
Earlier this week, Trump, Fox host Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, paid tribute to six crew members of a KC-135 Stratotanker who, along with seven other service members, lost their lives in Operation Epic Fury.
“The targets pursued under Operation Epic Fury include command and control centres; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters and intelligence sites; air defence systems; ballistic missile, anti-ship missile and surface-to-air missile sites; weapon production and storage bunkers; military infrastructure and communications capabilities; and naval ships and submarines,” the Department of War post said. https://x.com/DeptofWar/status/2035123861319045531?s=20
The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, reported that Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward the joint U.S.-UK base at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago. One missile reportedly failed in flight, while a U.S. warship launched an SM-3 interceptor at the second missile; it remains unclear whether the interception was successful. The report did not specify the timing of the launches.
The attempted strike is notable because Diego Garcia lies about 4,000 kilometres from Iran, suggesting Iran’s missile range may exceed public claims. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said last month the country limited missile range to 2,000 kilometres. The Diego Garcia base is a strategically important facility jointly operated by the United States and the United Kingdom.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Trump said Washington is not seeking a ceasefire. Speaking outside the White House, he said, “We can have dialogue, but I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side. We’re not looking to do that.” (ANI)
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