According to the general, U.S. forces employed the aerobalistic MGM-140 ATACMS missile system during strikes targeting Iranian maritime assets. The missiles were launched from M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems positioned in countries along the western coast of the Persian Gulf.
Caine stated that the missile strikes successfully hit and destroyed multiple Iranian naval vessels during the campaign. He also reported that U.S. forces managed to sink one Iranian submarine during the operations.
However, the specific class of the submarine was not disclosed during the briefing. It remains unclear whether the vessel belonged to the Russian-built Project 877EKM Kilo-class submarine, the indigenous Fateh-class submarine, or one of the smaller Ghadir-class submarine boats operated by Iran.
Although airpower has carried the primary burden of the campaign against Iran, long-range rocket artillery has played an important supporting role. U.S. rocket artillery units deployed in allied states around the Persian Gulf have contributed to strikes against Iranian military targets.
The campaign has also seen the first operational use of the ATACMS successor, the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). According to the information presented, both the legacy ATACMS missiles and the newer PrSM systems have been used in attacks against targets in Iran.
The introduction of these long-range missile systems reflects the broader effort by U.S. forces to expand precision strike capabilities during the conflict. Their deployment alongside airpower provides additional options for engaging maritime and land-based targets across the region.
