US says Iran’s submarine fleet eliminated; 16 warship classes destroyed in strikes

April 8, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The White House has said that US military operations have effectively neutralized Iran’s submarine force and destroyed scores of Iranian naval vessels, including 16 warship classes, as part of a broader military campaign, Operation Epic Fury.

In a briefing with reporters on April 8, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the results of recent operations against Iran’s military capabilities as “decisive,” saying Iranian undersea assets and surface warships had been targeted and eliminated. Leavitt said US forces had struck more than 150 naval vessels and that Iran’s once‑significant submarine fleet was no longer operational.

“The Iranian {Naval} Navy was completely annihilated. The United States destroyed more than 150 naval vessels in total, including 16 entire classes of Iranian warships. Despite once being the largest undersea force in the Middle East, Iran now has zero submarine vessels,” Leavitt stated.

She also added that “97% of Iran’s once massive inventory of more than 5,000 naval mines has also been targeted and destroyed”.

Leavitt did not provide detailed evidence on the ground but said the results reflect the “unprecedented capabilities” of US forces and their partners. She also emphasized that the operations were carried out in the context of responding to Iranian strikes against the US and regional partners.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated sharply over recent months, culminating in a series of missile and drone exchanges in the region.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has recently released imagery showing significant damage to the Shahid Mahallati Naval Boatyard in Bushehr following US strikes, describing the facility as a major hub for the construction and maintenance of small vessels used by Iran’s naval forces.

US hits Iran’s major naval boatyard in Bushehr, images show extent of damage

Operations

Earlier on, US President Donald Trump claimed that American naval forces successfully intercepted large-scale missile attacks launched by Iran targeting the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

According to Trump, Iran fired 101 missiles at the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, but he asserted that “every single one was knocked down on the sea.”