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The United States has crossed a significant threshold in its ongoing military campaign against Iran, with more than 10,000 strikes carried out since late February, according to a senior U.S. commander, as the conflict continues to intensify both on the battlefield and across global economic systems.

In an update posted Wednesday, U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads United States Central Command, said American forces reached the 10,000-strike mark nearly four weeks into Operation Epic Fury.

Cooper reported that U.S. operations have exceeded that number since the campaign began on Feb. 28, adding that forces remain “on plan or ahead of plan” in efforts aimed at dismantling Iran’s capacity to project power beyond its borders.

He said that sustained U.S. precision attacks have “overwhelmed Iranian air defenses,” created “tangible effects,” and significantly reduced Iran’s ability to target American forces and allied nations, noting that continued combat sorties are eroding Tehran’s offensive capabilities.

According to Cooper, U.S. strikes have crippled Iran’s naval strength, with roughly 92% of its largest vessels rendered inoperable. He also said that Iran’s use of drones and missiles has dropped by more than 90% following coordinated U.S. and allied operations.

He further stated that more than two-thirds of Iran’s facilities tied to missile, drone, and naval production—as well as key shipyards—have been hit or destroyed, while U.S. forces have maintained control of the skies and conducted over 10,000 combat flights throughout the campaign.

Cooper praised the role of long-range B-52 bombers and the involvement of more than 50,000 U.S. troops, saying they “embody the courage and resilience” of American service members.

Despite the scale of U.S. operations, Iran has continued launching retaliatory strikes, firing missiles and deploying drones at Israeli territory as well as U.S. and allied installations across the Middle East.

Several Iranian barrages have struck sites throughout Israel, including residential areas and civilian infrastructure. One such attack on March 1 resulted in the deaths of at least nine Israeli civilians.

Thousands of Israelis have been wounded in the attacks, with total injuries surpassing 4,000.

Iranian strikes have also reached U.S. bases and allied facilities in Gulf countries, with missiles crossing regional airspace and causing structural damage. In some instances, drone attacks have struck U.S. Embassy compounds, leading to minor damage.

By mid-March, U.S. officials reported that at least 13 American service members had been killed in the conflict, with approximately 232 wounded. More than 200 of those injured have since returned to duty.

Earlier casualty reports had placed the U.S. death toll at six, though subsequent updates reflected a higher number as the campaign progressed.

Beyond the battlefield, the conflict has sent shockwaves through global energy and shipping markets.

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued warnings that effectively shut down commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a steep drop in maritime activity.

At least a dozen commercial vessels sustained damage during the crisis, and one tugboat was sunk. Traffic through the strait initially declined by about 70% and, at times, came to a near standstill.

The disruption has affected roughly 20% of the world’s daily oil supply, along with significant shipments of liquefied natural gas, forcing major shipping companies to halt operations or reroute along significantly longer paths.

Oil markets reacted sharply, with Brent crude prices climbing past $100 per barrel and reaching highs of approximately $126.

The dual impact of sustained military conflict and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up war-risk insurance premiums for shipping and contributed to broader economic strain, including supply chain disruptions, rising commodity costs, and increased inflation in energy-dependent economies.

While U.S. officials maintain that Operation Epic Fury is steadily weakening Iran’s military capabilities and limiting its ability to conduct external attacks, Tehran’s ongoing retaliation continues to cause casualties and damage to Israeli and American interests throughout the region.

At the same time, Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has underscored the far-reaching global consequences of the conflict, particularly in energy markets and international trade.

U.S. military leaders continue to express confidence that Iran’s offensive capacity is diminishing as American forces sustain air superiority and press forward with the campaign.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

WATCH:

Thousands gathered in Yerushalayim on Wednesday to accompany Rav Moshe Mordechai Chalkowski zt”l, a revered mechanech and man of chessed, to his final resting place. He was 86.

Rav Chalkowski served for decades as the spiritual director of Neve Yerushalayim Seminary and was among the founders and longtime gabbai of the Perushim Shul in the Givat Shaul neighborhood.

Born in England on the 9th of Teves 5698 (1938), he was the son of Rav Meir and Mrs. Devorah Chalkowski. From a young age, he displayed a deep commitment to Torah and avodas Hashem.

He later married Mrs. Rachel Chalkowski, know as “Bambi,” a well-known midwife who served for many years as the head of the delivery room at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. She is the daughter of Rav Yona Bamberger of France, who was involved in helping Jews escape Eastern Europe, at times facilitating their passage to neutral Switzerland before being captured by the Gestapo, after which his fate remained unknown.

Mrs. Chalkowski was awarded the Yakir Yerushalayim Honor in recognition of her decades of service and dedication to acts of kindness, having helped bring tens of thousands of children into the world over the course of fifty years.

Together, the couple built their home in Yerushalayim, which became a center of kindness and generosity. Rav Chalkowski was known as a devoted oveid Hashem, whose home was open to those in need and whose life was marked by genuine compassion.

Over more than fifty years at Neve Yerushalayim Seminary, he guided and inspired generations of students, drawing thousands of young women closer to Torah and mitzvos with unwavering dedication. To many, he was not only a teacher, but a father figure, mentor, and trusted guide. His counsel was sought by countless individuals, and his words, delivered with calm and clarity, illuminated the path for many.

In addition to his work at the seminary, he played a central role in the Perushim Shul, where he was among its founders and served faithfully as gabbai for many years. He also delivered shiurim at other shuls in the neighborhood, building a devoted group of talmidim who remained closely connected to him.

Rav Chalkowski maintained close relationships with leading gedolei Torah in the community, including Rav Shlomo Wolbe and Rav Mordechai Zuckerman, from whom he drew inspiration and guidance.

Throughout his life, he bore personal suffering with remarkable strength and acceptance, serving as a living example of enduring hardship with dignity and faith.

The levayah began at 2 Rechov Panim Meiros in Yerushalayim, proceeded through the Perushim Shul on Rechov Rav Amram Gaon in Givat Shaul, and was attended by large crowds before continuing to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

The family is sitting shivah at his home, located at 3 Rechov Azriel in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

{Matzav.com}