Iran-Backed Groups Attacked US Forces Over 350 Times in 30 Months Before Operation Epic Fury

Admiral Brad Cooper, chief of US Central Command, disclosed that Iran and its proxy forces carried out approximately 350 attacks on US service members and diplomats in the Middle East during the 30 months preceding the launch of Operation Epic Fury.

Speaking on Thursday, Admiral Cooper emphasized the frequency of the assaults, noting they occurred roughly every third day. “Iran and its proxies had been attacking US service members and diplomats about 350 times,” he stated, adding that actions involved proxies in Iraq and Syria as well as the Houthis.

Cooper expressed disappointment that many Americans were unaware of the scale of these attacks in the period leading up to the February 28 decision to initiate Operation Epic Fury.

The admiral highlighted escalating Iranian missile capabilities as a major concern in the lead-up to the operation. He said production of ballistic missiles increased significantly starting around November and December, presenting serious risks to US partners and forces. Preventing a nuclear-capable Iran remained the top priority, with the military objectives of Operation Epic Fury focused on eliminating both existing missiles and Iran’s ability to produce them.

“If we couldn’t have neutralized that threat diplomatically, does there come a point where that’s not an option anymore,” Cooper was asked, to which he replied that Iran had developed a large-scale ballistic missile production capability that could potentially overwhelm defenses. He confirmed that this capability has now been virtually eliminated.

Admiral Cooper stated that Operation Epic Fury met every military objective. Comparing the situation before and after February 28, he noted a dramatic change for the Iranian Navy, which went from actively harassing shipping and operating as a regional power to having no navy at all.

The remarks came during questioning that also touched on the broader threat of Iranian nuclear escalation and the point at which military action became necessary to address capabilities that could no longer be managed through diplomacy alone.