‘Ahead of our game plan’: US, Israel going through their target list faster than expected

The US military campaign against Iran is progressing ahead of schedule, with commanders citing significant early gains in Operation Epic Fury. US Admiral Brad Cooper stated in a video briefing that the bombardment during the first 24 hours was “nearly double the scale” of the opening phase of the 2003 Iraq War. 

He added, “We are seeing that Iran’s ability to hit us, and our partners, is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building…My overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan.”

US forces reported that Iran’s air defences have suffered major damage, with more than 2,000 Iranian targets hit and 17 naval vessels sunk, leaving Iran’s navy without operational ships in key waterways. Approximately 50,000 US troops are involved in the operation, and Admiral Cooper indicated that “more capabilities” are being deployed. The Pentagon confirmed the deaths of four American soldiers, acknowledging the risk of further casualties as the conflict continues.

A source familiar with Israel’s war plan told Reuters that the campaign had been planned to last two weeks and was going through its target list faster than expected, with early success in killing Iran’s leaders – including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening salvos on Saturday. US President Donald Trump said on Monday that initial US projections were for the operation to last four to five weeks.

The conflict has severely affected civilian life in Iran, with the capital Tehran described as a “ghost town” as residents flee. Iran reported 787 deaths as of Tuesday, including 165 girls killed when their school was bombed on the war’s first day. 

Israel has maintained its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon after militants retaliated for the death of Khamenei. The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to 16 villages in southern Lebanon, cautioning residents to leave areas near Hezbollah positions, and conducted strikes on Iranian launch sites and infrastructure. Several people were reported killed in an Israeli air strike on a residential building in Baalbek, according to Lebanese state news agency NNA.

The ongoing conflict has led to over 20,000 flight cancellations as governments scramble to evacuate stranded travellers from the Middle East. Airline and tourism industries have been significantly disrupted, and global markets continue to react to the instability in the region.