Defense Secretary Hagasse and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Cain briefing [AP=Yonhap News]

The United States, which has been conducting military operations against Iran for five days, announced on the 4th (local time) that it had sunk more than 20 Iranian warships.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that "U.S. forces have attacked or sunk more than 20 vessels of the Iranian regime."

It was explained that this included Iranian Soleimani-class warships.

Defense Secretary Pete Hagasse commented on the post, saying of the Soleimani-class warship attacked by U.S. forces, "A ship named after a terrorist. Now resting with the fishes," adding, "CENTCOM does not miss. The (Iranian) regime doesn't know how to swim."

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Cain stated at a press briefing with Secretary Hagasse that day, "We have sunk more than 20 Iranian naval vessels to date," and that "we have effectively neutralized Iran's main naval forces within the operational area."

Meanwhile, the United States deployed its next-generation long-range missile, the 'PrSM' (Precision Strike Missile), for the first time in the war against Iran.

In posts and videos shared on X that day, CENTCOM announced, "For the first time, the long-range Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) was deployed in combat through the 'Epic Fury' operation, showcasing its unparalleled strike capability."

CENTCOM Commander Lt. Gen. Brad Cooper stated through the post, "I could not be more proud of our soldiers for demonstrating innovative capabilities that have put the enemy in a dilemma."