Iran’s Drone Assaults ‘Down 95%’ as Pete Hegseth Declares Operation Epic Fury Is Still ‘Ramping Up’

FedScoop
FedScoopMar 13, 2026

Why It Matters

The reported decimation of Iran's missile and drone capabilities underscores a significant escalation in U.S. military posture, potentially reshaping regional security calculations and influencing diplomatic negotiations.

Key Takeaways

  • Operation Epic Fury enters day 13 with intensified strikes.
  • U.S. reports 95% drop in Iranian attack drones.
  • Iranian air defenses, navy, and air force claimed nonexistent.
  • AI, cyber, space, EW tools increasingly deployed in campaign.
  • Bomber sortie count reaches record high over Iran and Tyrron.

Summary

The video marks the 13th day of the U.S.-led Operation Epic Fury, a campaign the speaker describes as the heaviest day of kinetic fires over Iran and the disputed region of Tyrron. Pete Hegseth announces that sortie numbers and bomber pulses have reached unprecedented levels, signaling a rapid escalation of aerial operations.

According to the briefing, Iranian missile launches have fallen by roughly 90% and one‑way attack drones are down 95% compared with previous days. The narrator claims Iran lacks functional air defenses, an air force, and a navy, suggesting that U.S. strikes are systematically dismantling the country’s offensive capabilities.

Key soundbites include, “Quantity has a quality of its own,” and a pledge that “every tool of AI, cyber, space, EW, counter‑UAS” is being employed. The speaker emphasizes that the campaign is still “ramping up,” despite the reported degradation of Iranian assets.

If accurate, these figures point to a dramatic shift in regional power dynamics, reinforcing U.S. air superiority while raising concerns about escalation, civilian collateral damage, and the potential for broader conflict. Analysts will watch how the stated degradation of Iran’s missile and drone capabilities influences diplomatic negotiations and future military planning.

Original Description

Iranian strikes involving one-way attack drones are drastically dipping as Operation Epic Fury enters its 13th day, according to two senior defense officials who emphasized on Friday that the U.S. and Israel are set to launch their “heaviest” assault across that warzone in a 24-hour timeframe.
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