The United States is nearing completion of its military objectives in Iran under "Operation Epic Fury," President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night in a televised address from the White House. Trump stated the U.S. has systematically dismantled Iran's ability to project power beyond its borders, targeting its navy, air force, missile programs, and defence industrial base. Since combat operations began on February 28, U.S. forces have struck over 12,300 sites in Iran, launched more than 13,000 combat flights, and damaged or destroyed 155 Iranian military vessels, according to U.S. Central Command. Trump declared Iran's navy "absolutely destroyed" and its missile capabilities "just about used up or beaten," asserting the campaign's goal is to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. "We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks—we're going to bring them back to the Stone Age, where they belong," Trump said. Thirteen American service members have died in the operation, a toll the president acknowledged while praising the military's precision and effectiveness. Trump also expressed gratitude to Middle Eastern allies, naming Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain for their support.
\nTrump's claim of near-total destruction of Iran's military hinges on battlefield assertions that cannot be independently verified, yet the scale of force described—12,300 strikes in weeks—suggests an unprecedented campaign. If accurate, the elimination of Iran's navy and missile infrastructure would drastically alter regional power dynamics. For Nigeria, such unilateral military escalation sets a precedent where global powers act without multilateral oversight, potentially normalising remote, large-scale warfare. This does not directly involve Nigeria, but it reinforces a world order where might outweighs diplomacy.
