“The Iranian regime used the hardened underground facility to discreetly store anti-ship cruise missiles, mobile missile launchers, and other equipment that presented a dangerous risk to international shipping,” Cooper said.

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“We not only took out the facility, but also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements,” Cooper continued. “Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz is degraded as a result, and we will not stop pursuing these targets.”

The narrow waterway situated between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south has largely become the focal point of international attention on the war between Iran and the U.S.-Israeli alliance. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps swiftly used its control over the Strait of Hormuz to its advantage after the U.S. and Israel struck Tehran on Feb. 28, choking off its enemies’ access to the waterway and disrupting global energy markets.

Cooper’s assessment was optimistic, and comes as the international community rallies behind the defense of the strait to bring stability to oil markets and bring prices down at the gas pump.

After President Donald Trump called on a multinational group of warships to defend the Strait of Hormuz, six countries issued a joint statement saying they were ready to help defend ships in the waterway. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands each jointly said they were prepared “to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait.”

Trump also waived the Jones Act on Wednesday to seek to bring gas price relief for American drivers.

In his Operation Epic Fury update on Saturday, Cooper said that the U.S. military has taken out “thousands” of Iranian missiles, flown over 8,000 combat flights, struck 8,000 targets, and hit 130 Iranian ships.

“My operational assessment continues to be Iran’s combat capability is on the steady decline as our offensive strikes ramp up. While U.S. forces continue to sustain overwhelming offensive firepower, I want to recognize our air defenders mounting a coordinated defense against Iran’s attacks,” Cooper said.

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His assessment also came as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz released a statement on Operation Roaring Lion.

Katz assessed that both the Israeli and U.S. operations would continue to ramp up as they take out security threats within the Iranian regime, according to the Associated Press.