New Delhi, March 4 -- The United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) on Wednesday announced that it had struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran since Operation Epic Fury began, adding that it had devastated Tehran's naval might, sinking 17 vessels including one submarine.

"We're also sinking the Iranian navy... the entire navy," said US Central Command's Brad Cooper in a briefing.

"Thus far, we've destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine that now has a hole in its side," the CENTCOM official added.

"For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping. Today, there is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Straight of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman," Cooper further said, declarin...