By Ginika Igboke
The U.S. military has released a new operational update on its ongoing conflict with Iran, revealing the масштаб of air operations and strikes carried out over more than a month of fighting.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday evening, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that more than 13,000 combat flights have been conducted since the start of the conflict on Feb. 28. During that time, U.S. forces have struck over 12,300 Iranian targets—an increase of roughly 1,300 since the last update issued on March 28.
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper described the campaign as having achieved significant results so far.
“Since the beginning of operations, there has been undeniable progress,” Cooper said in a statement released Thursday. “We don’t see their navy sailing. We don’t see their aircraft flying, and their air and missile defense systems have largely been destroyed.”
Continued Strikes and Escalating Rhetoric
Despite the sustained U.S. offensive, Iran signaled continued resistance. On Thursday, Iranian state media reported that the country launched additional missile attacks targeting locations across the Middle East.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also warned that it would expand its response by targeting U.S. technology firms and other companies, accusing them of supporting American military operations.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump indicated that U.S. strikes would continue for the next several weeks. In a televised address on April 1, he asked Americans for patience as the campaign moves forward.
“We are in this military operation, so powerful, so brilliant, against one of the most powerful countries for 32 days, and the country has been eviscerated and essentially is really no longer a threat,” Trump said. “This is a true investment in your children and your grandchildren’s future.”
Strategic Pressure and Diplomatic Signals
Trump also expressed cautious optimism about potential changes within Iran’s leadership following weeks of sustained U.S. and Israeli strikes.
He suggested that those currently in power may be “less radical and much more reasonable” to engage with, hinting at the possibility of future diplomatic progress even as military operations continue.
At the same time, the president reiterated earlier warnings tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. He said that if Iran continues efforts to disrupt maritime traffic, the United States could escalate its targeting strategy.
“If there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously,” Trump said. “We have not hit their oil, even though that’s the easiest target of all, because it would not give them even a small chance of survival or rebuilding. But we could hit it, and it would be gone.”
Iran Signals Readiness to Resist
Following Trump’s remarks, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed that millions of Iranians are prepared to defend the country against any potential ground invasion.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf said that a nationwide mobilization effort had already seen approximately 7 million people declare their readiness to take up arms if necessary.
“Right now, in less than a week, a powerful national campaign sweeping the country has brought forward around 7 million Iranians who have already stepped up and declared they’re ready to pick up arms,” he wrote.
Although Trump has not indicated plans to deploy U.S. ground troops, the statement underscores the heightened tensions and the potential for further escalation as the conflict continues.
Ongoing Conflict Outlook
With thousands of air operations completed and continued exchanges between both sides, the conflict shows no immediate signs of resolution. While U.S. officials point to significant degradation of Iran’s military capabilities, Iranian leaders continue to project defiance and readiness for prolonged confrontation.
The coming weeks are expected to be critical, as military pressure, economic concerns, and diplomatic efforts converge to shape the trajectory of the conflict.
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