US says 90% of Iran’s military destroyed, F‑15E down
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- Gen. Dan Caine reported the U.S. hit over 13,000 Iranian targets, including 1,500 air‑defense sites, 450 ballistic‑missile storage facilities and 800 attack‑drone depots.
- Pete Hegseth claimed Iran’s air‑defense system is gone and the U.S. “owns their skies,” yet later admitted Iran can still fire.
- Iran shot down a U.S. F‑15E Strike Eagle, which Trump described as a handheld shoulder‑seeking missile.
- U.S. Navy said more than 90% of Iran’s regular navy fleet is sunk, with 150 ships on the ocean floor, while only half of the Revolutionary Guard’s attack boats were destroyed.
- U.S. strike campaign allegedly eliminated over 95% of Iran’s naval mines, though the pre‑war stockpile size is unknown and Iranian sources say mines remain in the Strait of Hormuz.
- U.S. air‑strike effort crippled roughly 90% of Iran’s weapons factories and 80% of its nuclear industrial base, ending production of components such as solid‑rocket motors.
- Israel military reported a >90% interception rate for incoming drones and missiles, highlighting its aerial defense performance.
Why it matters: The U.S. narrative of near‑total Iranian military collapse bolsters domestic political messaging and justifies continued high‑cost air campaigns, while Iran’s retained strike capability, evidenced by the downed F‑15E, signals that the conflict remains capable of escalation and that regional actors such as Israel must rely on their own defenses.
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