US Middle East commander says 30 Iranian ships destroyed

PHOTO: Cooper on aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea February 7, 2026. U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sonny Escalante/Handout via REUTERS

Riyadh, March 6, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – U.S. forces have struck Iran’s equivalent of a space command capability during ongoing operations, the head of U.S. Central Command said on Thursday.

Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads U.S. forces in the Middle East, told reporters at CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Florida, that the strike degraded Iran’s ability to threaten American forces.

The action targeted a command structure linked to Iran’s military space and missile operations.

Cooper said Iranian ballistic missile launches have dropped sharply since the first day of the conflict, declining by about 90%.

U.S. operations have also destroyed or sunk more than 30 Iranian naval vessels during the campaign, he added.

The next phase of the operation will focus on dismantling Iran’s missile production capability, according to the CENTCOM commander.