In a stunning demonstration of air dominance, the United States has flown over 6,000 combat sorties in just two weeks of Operation Epic Fury, establishing what Pentagon officials now describe as “total air superiority” over large parts of Iran.

From advanced F-35 stealth fighters to B-52 Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer bombers, American aircraft have conducted relentless round-the-clock missions, striking more than 400 Iranian military targets including missile factories, underground command centers, radar installations, and drone bases. U.S. Central Command reports that Iranian air defenses have been severely degraded, with many key radar sites destroyed or forced offline.

The scale of the operation is unprecedented in modern conflict. On some nights, more than 300 combat flights were recorded, overwhelming Iranian attempts to contest the skies. Senior U.S. Air Force commanders say this sustained pressure has significantly reduced Iran’s ability to launch coordinated ballistic missile attacks on Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf.

However, the campaign has not been without cost. The U.S. has already expended more than $11 billion in munitions, and both the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln have faced repeated Iranian attacks and operational restrictions. Iran under Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei continues to fire missiles at Israeli cities and strike coalition targets using asymmetric tactics.

Still, the sheer volume of American combat flights has shifted the momentum. Iranian air activity has dropped sharply, and many analysts believe Tehran’s missile production capacity has been seriously damaged.

As the U.S. maintains this punishing tempo in the skies, the message to Iran is unmistakable: America controls the air — and the cost of continued resistance will only grow higher.