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U.S. Strikes Destroy Most of Iran's Naval Mines and Much of Its Military Industry, Centcom Commander Tells Congress
Admiral Brad Cooper told the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 14, 2026 that the U.S. bombing campaign significantly degraded Iran's military capabilities. More than 85 percent of Iran's ballistic missile, drone and naval industrial base was damaged or destroyed. A ceasefire reached April 7 remains in effect even as the U.S. Navy maintains a blockade of Iranian ports.
May 14, 1:55 PM·2m read3 sources
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U.S. Central Command, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 14, 2026.
The bombing campaign achieved all of its objectives to degrade Iran's military capabilities, Cooper said. Operation Epic Fury damaged or destroyed more than 85 percent of Iran's ballistic missile, drone and naval industrial base through more than 1,450 strikes on weapons-manufacturing facilities. Iran has roughly 10 percent of drone and missile capability left.
It would take Iran a generation to rebuild its navy and years for its drone and missile production to recover, Cooper told lawmakers. He stated that recent reporting Iran retains about 70 percent of its ballistic missile inventory is inaccurate. CBS News reported in April that Iran retained at least half of its ballistic missiles and launchers.
U.S. Central Command saw an increase in Iran's capability and intent to produce more ballistic missiles. Cooper said this presented a very significant risk that factored into the objectives of Operation Epic Fury.
A ceasefire was reached on April 7 and remains in effect. U.S. Navy is maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports, and there were exchanges of fire last week. The administration has told Congress that hostilities with Iran have terminated.
Cooper said the Iranian ability to stop commerce through the Strait of Hormuz has been dramatically degraded, even as Tehran continues to claim control of the strait. "The Iranian ability to stop commerce has been dramatically degraded through the straits, but their voice is very loud, and those threats are clearly heard by the merchant industry and the insurance industry," Cooper said.
