US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran’s air defense systems and missile capabilities have been largely destroyed as the US-led military campaign against Tehran intensifies.
Trump said Iranian anti-aircraft weapons have effectively disappeared, leaving the country without meaningful air defenses. He also claimed that about 60 percent of Iran’s missiles and 64 percent of their launch platforms have been destroyed. According to the president, missile launch sites are being targeted within minutes of firing.
The claims could not be independently verified.
The missile program, along with Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and naval forces, has been a key target of the US military campaign.
Meanwhile, Brad Cooper, commander of the United States Central Command, said Iranian missile attacks have sharply declined since the start of the operation.
Cooper said ballistic missile launches have fallen by about 90 percent compared with the first day of the conflict, while drone attacks have dropped by roughly 83 percent.
He said US forces are not only intercepting missiles but are also targeting Iran’s ballistic missile production infrastructure in an effort to dismantle the country’s ability to manufacture missiles in the future.
The commander also said US forces have sunk more than 30 Iranian naval vessels during the conflict, including a large drone carrier that he said is now burning after a recent strike.
Trump also downplayed the possibility of deploying US ground troops in Iran, calling such a move unnecessary. He said Iran has already lost much of its military capability, including significant naval assets.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that a US ground invasion would be disastrous for American forces, saying Tehran is prepared for all possible scenarios as the war continues to escalate.
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