Iran's military more capable than Trump administration is publicly acknowledging, sources say

[Cypress]

Iran's military more capable than Trump administration is publicly acknowledging, sources say​

The Islamic Republic of Iran maintains more military capabilities than the White House or Pentagon has publicly admitted, according to multiple U.S. officials with knowledge of intelligence on the matter.

About half of Iran's stockpile of ballistic missiles and its associated launch systems were still intact as of the start of the ceasefire in early April, three of the officials told CBS News.

Roughly 60% of the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is still in existence, the officials said, including fast-attack speed boats. On Wednesday, Iranian gunboats attacked several commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, shortly after President Trump announced he was unilaterally extending a ceasefire to allow more time for peace talks.

Iranian air power has been significantly degraded but not erased, said the officials, who requested anonymity from CBS News because they were not authorized to discuss the matters publicly.

About two-thirds of Iran's air force is still believed to be operational, the officials said, after an intensive U.S. and Israeli campaign that struck thousands of targets, including storage and production facilities.

Previously, the president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have described the U.S. effort, called Operation Epic Fury, as essentially destroying Iran's military capacity.

"We've taken out their navy, we've taken out their air force, we've taken out their leaders," Mr. Trump said Tuesday.

The defense secretary has gone further in his public statements, saying, "Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, a capital V military victory," Hegseth said at a Pentagon press briefing on April 8, shortly after Mr. Trump declared a ceasefire with Iran. He added, "By any measure, Epic Fury decimated Iran's military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come."

Iran's military more capable than Trump administration is publicly acknowledging, sources say

About half of Iran's stockpile of ballistic missiles and its associated launch systems were still intact as of the start of the ceasefire in early April, officials said.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]

Sources (and results) are all pointing in the same direction.

Pentagon says it will take months to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz​

The Pentagon told lawmakers this week it will likely take six months to clear the mines set in the strait.

Officials from the Department of Defense delivered the information during a classified briefing at the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

The session left more questions than answers as lawmakers probed for information about the cost of the war against Iran, the strategy and objectives. The lawmakers also raised questions that have still gone unanswered about the strike on a school compound during the early days of the war.

 

[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]

Trump’s Iran war is driving military dissent​

As the US expands its war with Iran, opposition is growing - not just among the public, but inside the military itself. Some service members are questioning orders, exploring conscientious objection, and speaking out. What’s driving this shift, and how far could it go?