PHAROS
STAR
Dashboard →
HIGHMILITARYVERIFIED

CENTCOM Admiral Cooper: 'undeniable progress' in Operation Epic Fury as campaign enters second month

·CENTCOM / Middle East

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper issued an operational assessment on April 2 stating the US-Israeli campaign against Iran — Operation Epic Fury — is making 'undeniable progress in eliminating Iran's ability to project power in meaningful ways outside of its borders' as the operation enters its second month (week 5). The statement was released as Trump delivered his national address and Iran's IRGC simultaneously counter-claimed that its capabilities remained intact. Cooper's assessment names the campaign's specific goal as 'eliminating Iran's ability to project power' — not regime change or nuclear disarmament.

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper released an operational assessment on April 2, 2026 (D34), as Operation Epic Fury entered its second month (week 5). Cooper's statement: 'We are making undeniable progress in eliminating Iran's ability to project power in meaningful ways outside of its borders.' Campaign name: Operation Epic Fury Timeline: D34 = week 5 of the operation (launched February 28) Strategic framing: Cooper's specific language — 'eliminate Iran's ability to project power outside its borders' — defines the operation's stated military objective as: - Degrading IRGC external operations capabilities (proxies, missile reach, naval) - NOT stated: regime change, nuclear disarmament, or occupation This aligns with Trump's narrative of 'nearing completion of core strategic objectives' while maintaining 2-3 more weeks of operations. However, Iran's IRGC simultaneously counter-claimed that its capabilities 'were not decimated' — creating a direct public assessment conflict between CENTCOM and IRGC. Notable context: During his visit to Israel March 29-30, Cooper met with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to 'discuss progress made during ongoing operations to eliminate Iran's ability to project power in meaningful ways outside its borders' — using the same language, suggesting this is a formally coordinated US-Israel campaign objective statement. Sources: Republic World live blog; el-Balad (CENTCOM press release, April 2, 2026).
centcomcooperoperation-epic-furyusidfcampaign-assessmentweek5day34

Actor responses

United StatesSUPPORTINGMILITARY

CENTCOM Admiral Cooper: 'We are making undeniable progress in eliminating Iran's ability to project power in meaningful ways outside of its borders.' Week 5, Operation Epic Fury. Campaign objective explicitly framed as degrading external power projection, not regime change.

IRGCOPPOSINGMILITARY

IRGC countered Cooper's assessment same day: strikes 'did not decimate' missile production, drones, air defenses or electronic warfare systems. 'You know nothing about our vast and strategic capabilities.' Direct public contradiction of CENTCOM assessment.

Sources

T1CENTCOM press release via Republic World — Cooper: 'undeniable progress' in Operation Epic Fury9% reliability