The US and Israeli militaries have been pounding Iran's security forces for nearly three weeks, leaving a trail of destruction aimed at dislodging the Tehran regime with air power.
The combined armed forces of the US and Israel have destroyed air-defense systems, drone bases, and missiles, sinking or disabling Iran's conventional naval vessels and grounding its air force.
Much of Tehran's leadership is in hiding as the bombs fall, with over 1,100 Iranian military personnel and 1,300 civilians killed, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency.
Israel has targeted Iranian leaders, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, top national-security official Ali Larijani, and others responsible for the government's repression apparatus.
American forces have flown over 6,500 combat flights and struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran, focusing on destroying Iranian military sites and ballistic missiles.
The US has sent 50,000 American servicemembers to the Middle East to support the operation, with the Pentagon deploying 2,200 Marines to the region to potentially forcibly open the Strait of Hormuz.
