US Destroys 140+ Iranian Naval Vessels Including 50 Mine Layers — 'Largest Navy Elimination Since World War II'

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt disclosed on Day 26 that US forces have destroyed more than 140 Iranian naval vessels over approximately three weeks of Operation Epic Fury — including nearly 50 mine-laying vessels. She described it as 'the largest elimination of a navy over a three-week period since World War II.' The destruction of Iran's mine-laying fleet is strategically decisive: Iran had threatened to mine the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf surrounding key islands if US forces appeared to be landing troops. With ~50 mine layers destroyed, that threat is significantly degraded. The three-week naval campaign has systematically dismantled Iran's naval asymmetric warfare capability: 140+ surface vessels destroyed, submarine design and development facility at Isfahan eliminated by an IDF naval intelligence-guided strike, and the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier survived a 101-missile barrage and remained operational in the Sea of Oman. Iran's residual naval capability consists of Qader shore-based anti-ship cruise missiles, IRGC armed speedboats, and degraded submarine capacity. The IRGC claimed to target a US F-18 fighter jet on Day 26, signaling continued offensive intent despite the scale of losses.

Key facts

• •White House: 140+ Iranian naval vessels destroyed in 3 weeks, including ~50 mine layers
• •'Largest elimination of a navy over a three-week period since World War II' — Leavitt
• •50 mine layers destroyed = Iran's Hormuz mining threat significantly degraded
• •Isfahan Underwater Research Centre (Iran's only submarine design facility) destroyed Day 26
• •USS Abraham Lincoln survived 101-missile attack; IRGC claims F-18 targeted (unverified)