The United States Secretary of Defense Hagerty reported on the progress of the US military’s operations against Iran during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday (March 26). He stated that the deployment of low-flying, slow-moving aircraft in Iranian airspace by the US military demonstrates one thing – the enemy no longer has substantial air defense capabilities.
This operation, as described by Hagerty, is deemed worthy of being recorded in history as a thorough victory for the United States. He emphasized that the US military is “ahead of schedule” in this mission.
Since February 28, as part of the “Operation Wrath of the Epic” launched by the US military against Iran, over 150 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk. Iran has now “lost their navy, and they have lost their naval commanders,” remarked Hagerty.
“We have severely weakened their coastal defense capabilities and naval power,” he said.
Hagerty also cited that US A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters have been freely flying in Iranian airspace, including over the Strait of Hormuz.
“You only send out these slow, low-flying, close-air support platforms (referring to aircraft) when the enemy no longer has any substantial air defense capability,” he explained. “Therefore, their presence proves that Iran’s air defense system no longer exists, their command and control structures have been destroyed, and their top leaders are hiding in underground bunkers.”
Hagerty further added that with mid-level commanders being eliminated on the battlefield, the morale of the Iranian regime is plummeting rapidly. In addition to sinking over 150 Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels, in less than a month, the US military has destroyed over 10,000 enemy targets, including crucial underground facilities and buildings related to Iran’s defense-industrial infrastructure.
“27 days ago, Iran still had a modernized military; never before in history has a military been so quickly and effectively destroyed,” stated Hagerty. He also pointed out that Iran’s combat capabilities are declining while the operational capabilities of the US and Israel are strengthening.
“We are here for victory, and we are moving full speed ahead,” he added.
On March 14, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) released a new video showing a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber participating in strikes against Iranian missile and control sites.
Due to the B-52 bomber not being a stealth aircraft and its large size, even poorly maintained air defense systems find it easy to detect this massive target. Therefore, B-52 bombers are typically used for airstrikes in regions where the US already holds air superiority.
The unhindered execution of missions by B-52s in Iranian airspace indicates that the US military has dismantled Iran’s integrated air defense system.