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The targeted vessel was identified as the Soleimani, a prized asset of the Iranian Navy named after Qasem Soleimani, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander killed by a U.S. drone strike in January 2020.
“The Iranian Navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf. Combat ineffective, decimated, destroyed, defeated. Pick your adjective,” Hegseth said. “In fact, last night we sunk their prize ship, the Soleimani. Looks like POTUS got him twice. Their navy, not a factor. Pick your adjective. It is no more.”
Pentagon officials released video and imagery highlighting the strike, showing the immediate and total destruction of the vessel. The demonstration underscored the United States’ ongoing campaign alongside Israel, which continues to target Iranian military infrastructure, missile sites, and command centers across the region.
Hegseth emphasized that the operation is quickly altering the balance of power in the air as well. The secretary stated that after significant strikes on Tehran’s missile capabilities over four days, U.S. and Israeli forces are moving toward “complete control” of Iranian airspace.
“More bombers and more fighters are arriving just today and now, with complete control of the skies, we will be using 500 pound, one thousand pound and 2,000 pound laser-guided precision gravity bombs, of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile,” Hegseth said, highlighting the vast military resources at the coalition’s disposal.
The conflict is already exacting a heavy human toll. U.S. officials estimate that more than 1,000 people have died in Iran and dozens in Lebanon, while American casualties include six U.S. service members killed in a drone strike in Kuwait.
The fighting has also disrupted daily life across the Middle East, stranding thousands of travelers and prompting governments to issue emergency warnings. Many embassies have reduced or suspended services in affected countries.
Caine said the U.S. military is actively working to assist Americans still in the region following a State Department warning urging citizens to leave more than a dozen countries amid escalating dangers.
“The safety of U.S. citizens abroad is a top priority,” Caine said. “We are coordinating every effort to ensure Americans can leave safely and return home.”
The dramatic submarine strike and sweeping air campaign mark a new chapter in U.S. military operations, signaling a determined effort to dismantle Iran’s military power and assert American dominance in the region.
