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American and Israeli forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran with more than 2,000 munitions in the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury, also named Roaring Lion by Tel Aviv, the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday.
Meanwhile, top Trump administration officials told Congress to expect an even larger wave of strikes in the coming days.
Adm. Brad Cooper, leader of U.S. Central Command, stated that more than 50,000 U.S. troops, 200 fighter aircraft, two aircraft carriers, and long-range bombers are participating in the operation, the largest U.S. military buildup in the Middle East in a generation.
"Many of you may remember the shock and awe strikes of 2003. The first 24 hours of this operation were nearly double the scale, and we continue with 24/7 strikes into Iran from seabed to space and cyberspace," Cooper said in a video update.
"Our B-2 bombers and B-1 bombers have executed uncontested surgical strikes against multiple missile facilities deep inside Iran," he added.
Cooper said 17 Iranian naval vessels, including a submarine, have been destroyed.
"There is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman," he noted.
"U.S. and Israeli forces, including CENTCOM's Scorpion Strike drone task force, are dominating Iran's airspace," Cooper said, adding that "coalition forces have severely degraded Iran's air defenses and destroyed hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers and drones."
"In simple terms, we're focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us," Cooper said.
"My overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan," he noted.
Iran has retaliated by launching more than 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones, according to Cooper, though he said "Tehran's ability to strike U.S. forces and partners is declining." He described the attacks as "indiscriminately targeting civilians."
"We will not stop. We will continue to conduct dynamic targeting operations or hunting Iran's last remaining mobile ballistic missile launchers," Cooper stated.
Top administration officials told lawmakers in classified briefings Tuesday to expect a bigger wave of military strikes on Iran in the coming days. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed House and Senate lawmakers.
"This regime is in its death throes. The amount of firepower coming in the next day or two from us is going to be overwhelming," said Sen. Lindsey Graham.
"What's coming in the coming days from us is going to be a lot bigger than it's been in the last couple of days. The Arabs are in the fight now, so stay tuned," he noted.
"The liberation of Iran is at hand. The gateway to peace is about to open," Graham added.
Rubio told reporters before the briefings that the U.S. would "unleash" on Iran in "the next few hours and days."
Sen. Andy Kim confirmed that officials told lawmakers to expect stronger strikes going forward. "This is only just the beginning of what several of them said is going to be a very long operation. This is a war. This is the Iran war," Kim said.
Sen. Josh Hawley said the scope of Operation Epic Fury is "very broad," "rapidly evolving" and "really changing by the hour."
Both chambers are preparing to hold votes on resolutions to curb Trump's ability to carry out additional military action in Iran.
The Senate will vote Wednesday afternoon, but the resolution is expected to fail given nearly all 53 Republicans back Trump on Iran.
Sen. Rand Paul is the only Republican who has suggested he will vote for the resolution, while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman is expected to vote against it.
"I'm the only Democrat because I'm not afraid of my base," Fetterman said.
Republican lawmakers said they did not get the impression the administration was preparing to deploy ground troops, but reiterated that Trump is ruling nothing out.
"All of the people who work for the president don't rule out any of his options, and that's a really good position," said Sen. Kevin Cramer, a member of the Armed Services Committee.
Some House conservatives who had been critical of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars expressed concern about another prolonged conflict.
"I don't want a 20-year war, trillions of dollars, or thousands of lives lost," said Rep. Nancy Mace, adding that, "I don't want troops on the ground. That is my No. 1 concern."
Multiple House and Senate Republicans said they expected the White House to request a supplemental funding package on Iran from Congress and said they would support it.
"Yes, absolutely, yes," said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who spoke to Trump after strikes began.
Six American service members have been killed in the operation. Four of them, all Army reservists killed when a drone struck Kuwait, were publicly identified Tuesday evening.
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