US says it is nearing total control of Iranian airspace

08:50

By: Dakir Madiha

US says it is nearing total control of Iranian airspace

The United States and Israel have intensified their joint military campaign against Iran, with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating that American and Israeli forces are close to achieving full control of Iranian airspace as the conflict enters its sixth day.

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the two allies were on the verge of securing uncontested dominance in the skies over Iran. He warned that US bombers and fighter jets would continue operating around the clock to locate and strike Iranian military targets.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Washington expects complete control of Iranian airspace within hours, reflecting the rapid expansion of the joint air campaign.

Hegseth also confirmed that a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka. According to US officials, it was the first time since World War II that an American submarine had sunk an enemy vessel using a torpedo.

Sri Lankan naval authorities reported recovering 87 bodies and rescuing 32 survivors following the incident. Hegseth described the vessel as a key asset of Iran’s military fleet.

The conflict has expanded geographically, reaching areas near NATO territory. Turkey said alliance air defenses intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile approaching Turkish airspace. According to reports from The New York Times, the missile was targeting the Incirlik air base, which hosts US forces.

The missile was intercepted by an SM-3 interceptor launched from a US warship. Debris from the interception fell in Turkey’s Hatay province near the Syrian border, though no casualties were reported.

European powers have also increased their military presence in the region. French President Emmanuel Macron ordered the deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its strike group to the Mediterranean.

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence announced the deployment of HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air defense destroyer, to the eastern Mediterranean along with Wildcat helicopters equipped with anti drone missiles.

Iran has continued retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region, targeting US facilities and diplomatic sites while threatening economic infrastructure across the Middle East.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Associated Press that Iranian ballistic missile launches had fallen by 86 percent compared with the first day of the conflict. Drone attacks have declined by 73 percent.

Despite the drop in launch activity, Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Ebrahim Jabbari warned that if Iran’s main strategic centers were attacked, the country would target economic infrastructure throughout the region.

The conflict has also caused major disruption to global energy markets. Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes.

Shipping traffic through the strait has dropped sharply. Data cited by The Guardian from Lloyd’s List showed vessel traffic falling from more than 50 merchant ships per day to just seven.

Oil prices have surged more than 14 percent since the conflict began, with Brent crude rising above $83 per barrel. European natural gas prices have also climbed by more than 70 percent after Qatar halted liquefied natural gas production following Iranian drone strikes.

President Donald Trump said the US Navy is prepared to escort oil tankers through the strait if necessary. Analysts warn that oil prices could exceed $100 per barrel if the waterway remains closed.