US Military Claims Decisive Naval Victory Over Iran in Operation Epic Fury
The United States has asserted a significant military triumph against Iran, claiming to have effectively neutralised the Islamic Republic's naval capabilities in a matter of days. Defence secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the "Iranian Navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf," following coordinated strikes under Operation Epic Fury launched last Saturday.
Submarine Attack Marks Historic Naval Engagement
In a dramatic escalation, a US submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka. Hegseth characterised this engagement as the first instance since World War II where an American vessel has sunk an enemy ship. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 80 personnel aboard the Iranian frigate.
Satellite imagery from commercial firm Planet Labs PBC appears to corroborate the scale of the assault, showing multiple vessels, including Iran's largest warship, engulfed in flames at military ports. The IRIS Makran, a converted 121,000-metric-tonne crude oil tanker commissioned in 2021, was reportedly destroyed while moored at the Bandar Abbas naval base.
Assessing the Power of Iran's Naval Forces
Prior to the conflict, the Iranian Navy represented a formidable regional force with deep historical roots dating back to approximately 500 BC. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 2026 assessment, the conventional Islamic Republic of Iran Navy comprised:
- 18,000 troops and 2,600 marines
- 18 submarines
- 70 patrol and coastal combatants
- 23 amphibious vessels
- Substantial numbers of smaller patrol boats
Additionally, the separate Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Naval Forces maintained 20,000 personnel, including 5,000 marines, equipped with advanced weaponry including helicopters, UAVs, and precision-guided munitions.
Extent of Damage to Iranian Fleet
Admiral Brad Cooper of US Central Command provided a stark assessment on Tuesday, declaring: "We are also sinking the Iranian navy. The entire navy." He confirmed the destruction of 17 Iranian ships, including what he described as "the most operational Iranian submarine that now has a hole in its side."
Maritime security analysts have identified several specific vessels believed destroyed in the attacks:
- IRIS Makran - forward base ship and fleet's largest vessel
- IRIS Dena - frigate warship torpedoed in Indian Ocean
- IRIS Bayandor - believed sunk according to maritime reports
- IRIS Jamaran - reportedly destroyed in strikes
- IRIS Shahid Bagheri - state-of-the-art drone carrier launched last year
Hegseth emphasised the strategic impact, noting: "For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping. Today there's not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman, and we will not stop."
The Independent has been unable to independently verify all claims regarding vessel losses. However, the apparent scale of destruction, if confirmed, represents a dramatic shift in naval power dynamics in the strategically vital Persian Gulf region, where Iran has maintained significant maritime influence for centuries.
