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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to reassure the American public on Monday that the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran would not become an extended conflict like previous Middle Eastern wars, declaring, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless.”
In the Trump administration’s first formal press briefing since operations began Saturday, Hegseth, alongside Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined the military campaign’s objectives while addressing mounting concerns about regional escalation.
“We have a clear, devastating, decisive mission to destroy the missile threat from Iran, destroy its navy, and ensure no nukes,” Hegseth stated. “No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win, and we don’t waste time or lives.”
While President Donald Trump has conducted several phone interviews with reporters since the operation began, he has largely avoided on-camera questions, releasing only two video statements. In an interview with The New York Times on Sunday, Trump suggested the assault could last “four to five weeks.”
When pressed about this timeline, Hegseth dismissed concerns, saying, “President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take. Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks. It could move up. It could move back.”
The briefing comes amid rapidly escalating tensions throughout the Middle East. Iran and its allied groups have launched missiles at Israel, Arab states, and U.S. military targets in the region. Four American troops have been killed in action so far, with both Trump and Caine acknowledging that additional casualties are expected.
“We grieve with you, and we will never forget you,” Caine said, addressing families of fallen service members.
The conflict’s widening scope was underscored by a dangerous friendly fire incident when U.S. ally Kuwait “mistakenly shot down” three American F-15E Strike Eagles, mistaking them for Iranian aircraft during combat operations. U.S. Central Command reported all six pilots ejected safely and were in stable condition.
Perhaps most significantly, U.S. and Israeli forces killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the operation, a development that has thrown the Islamic Republic into uncertainty. Hegseth insisted this was not primarily about regime change, though he noted: “This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it.”
In justifying the military action, Hegseth portrayed Iran as the aggressor, stating that for 47 years the regime has “waged a savage, one-sided war against America.” He emphasized that Iranian officials had been “stalling” during pre-strike negotiations. “The former regime had every chance to make a peaceful and sensible deal. But Tehran was not negotiating,” he said.
Gen. Caine revealed that President Trump authorized the strikes at 3:38 p.m. EST on Friday while aboard Air Force One heading to Texas with Republican Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, and actor Dennis Quaid. The operation, codenamed Epic Fury, utilized B-2 stealth bombers that made a 37-hour round trip, similar to last year’s strikes that used massive bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Caine highlighted the sophisticated nature of the operation, noting extensive use of cyber technologies that “effectively disrupted communications and sensor networks,” leaving “the adversary without the ability to coordinate or respond effectively.”
The human toll of the conflict continues to mount. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports at least 555 people killed in Iran so far. Authorities in Israel and Lebanon report 11 and 31 fatalities respectively.
Questions about the justification for the strikes emerged after a private briefing on Sunday, where Trump administration officials reportedly told congressional staff that U.S. intelligence did not suggest Iran was preparing a preemptive strike against the United States. Officials acknowledged only a more general threat in the region from Iran’s missiles and proxy forces, which appears to contradict President Trump’s public assertion that the mission aimed to eliminate “imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to brief congressional leadership Monday, with Rubio, Hegseth, Caine, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe set to address the full Congress on Tuesday.
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9 Comments
It’s good to see the administration taking a more aggressive stance against Iran’s destabilizing influence in the region. Crippling their military capabilities seems like a reasonable strategic goal.
I agree, but I hope they can achieve this without sparking a wider regional conflict. Careful diplomacy will be key alongside the military action.
Destroying Iran’s military capabilities may be a necessary step, but I worry about the potential for unintended consequences. Escalation could destabilize the entire region if not handled carefully.
The Iran situation is certainly tense, but I’m skeptical of claims that this conflict will be quick or easy to resolve. Hegseth’s rhetoric sounds a bit too optimistic in my view.
I share your skepticism. Conflict with Iran is notoriously complex, and past military campaigns have often gone sideways despite initial confidence. Caution is warranted here.
The conflict with Iran is complex, but I’m glad to hear the administration is focused on decisive action rather than endless quagmires. Destroying missile threats and the Iranian navy seems like a prudent military objective.
I share your sentiment. Avoiding the mistakes of past Middle Eastern wars is crucial. Hopefully this can be resolved swiftly and without undue escalation.
I’m curious to see how this latest military campaign against Iran plays out. The administration seems determined to take a harder line, but I hope they can avoid getting bogged down in another intractable conflict.
It’s a delicate balance. Decisiveness is important, but they’ll need to be strategic and measured to prevent a broader conflagration. Time will tell if they can pull it off.