US Claims ‘Decisive Victory’ in Operation Epic Fury, Says Iran Forced Into Ceasefire
Islamabad: The United States has described its military campaign against Iran as a “historic and decisive success,” claiming that the operation compelled Tehran to agree to a ceasefire.
Speaking to the media, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine praised the operation, named “Epic Fury,” calling it a major military achievement.
Hegseth said that under President Donald Trump, the United States carried out a decisive strike that forced Iran into submission. He claimed that only 10 percent of US military capability was used to destroy Iran’s weapons manufacturing facilities, air force, and naval assets.
According to the US defense chief, hundreds of Iranian missiles were intercepted before reaching their targets, and Iran’s ballistic missile program suffered severe damage. He further alleged that key figures within Iran’s military, intelligence, and defense leadership had been eliminated.
Hegseth also claimed that Iran’s new supreme leader had been injured and that Tehran was unable to withstand further US strikes, ultimately agreeing to a ceasefire. He added that shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was gradually resuming under the monitoring of the US Navy.
Warning Tehran against any further escalation, Hegseth stated that even a single missile launch would trigger renewed US military action. He described the ceasefire as a major success of Trump’s “peace through strength” doctrine.
Meanwhile, General Dan Caine said the 38-day operation resulted in “remarkable success,” while paying tribute to 13 US troops killed and noting that 520 personnel were injured during the conflict.
He revealed that a recent pilot rescue mission involved 155 aircraft, successfully retrieving a pilot from enemy territory without casualties—an operation he termed a “military miracle.” He also confirmed that stranded US aircraft were deliberately destroyed to prevent sensitive technology from falling into enemy hands.
General Caine further claimed that up to 90 percent of Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities had been destroyed, significantly reducing the threat posed by Tehran.
