U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper announced Saturday that the Army conducted the longest field artillery strike in its combat history two days earlier. The strike on March 19 targeted Iranian military infrastructure using precision strike missiles.

Cooper highlighted the operation during a briefing on ongoing efforts against Iran. He stated the strike demonstrated the U.S. military's "unmatched reach and lethality." The action is part of a broader campaign that has hit more than 8,000 Iranian military targets, including 130 vessels. Cooper described the destruction of Iran's navy as the largest over three weeks since World War II.

The Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM, enables such long-range engagements from platforms like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS. The missile has an operational range exceeding 400 kilometers. U.S. forces first employed PrSM in combat earlier this month during the same operations.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine praised soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, for their pioneering role. On March 13, Caine noted the unit fired the first precision strike missiles in combat, reaching deep into Iranian territory and contributing to the sinking of multiple ships, including a submarine. The battalion used HIMARS systems in these strikes.

Operation Epic Fury started after stalled talks with Iran over nuclear enrichment. Strikes commenced around February 28, targeting military sites, drone production, and threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. By March 13, U.S. forces had attacked over 6,000 targets, reducing Iran's drone launches by 83 percent. Cooper reported further degradation of Iran's missile radars and intelligence sites.

The campaign involves air, sea, and land assets, with Gulf partners aiding in drone defense. U.S. forces established extensive air defenses over the Middle East. Iran has launched more than 2,000 drones in response, but its capabilities have sharply declined.