The US is now in what protection leaders name main fight operations towards Iran, although Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that doesn’t equate to “countless warfare” and one other prime Pentagon official stated it is “just the start.”
Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Gen. Dan Caine briefed reporters and the nation on Monday morning on the Pentagon, detailing the large-scale air and naval marketing campaign launched early Saturday morning below direct orders from President Donald Trump and named Operation Epic Fury.
U.S. forces struck greater than 1,000 targets within the first 24 hours. Officers stated the navy was roughly 57 hours into the operation on the time of the briefing and warned the marketing campaign will take time.
Caine described the opening hours as some of the advanced joint operations in current reminiscence.
“This work is simply starting,” Caine stated.
Greater than 100 plane launched at H-hour from land bases and service decks in a synchronized wave. Fighters, refueling tankers, airborne early warning plane, bombers and unmanned programs moved collectively. U.S. Navy destroyers fired Tomahawk cruise missiles. U.S. Cyber Command and U.S. Area Command disrupted Iranian radar and communications earlier than and throughout the strikes.
The acknowledged targets are clear: destroy Iran’s offensive missile programs, dismantle missile manufacturing, strike naval capabilities, and guarantee Tehran by no means obtains a nuclear weapon.
Hegseth Rejects Iraq Comparability
Hegseth pushed again on comparisons to Iraq and Afghanistan, arguing the marketing campaign will not be a regime change effort or long-term occupation.
“This isn’t countless warfare,” he stated. “This isn’t Iraq. This isn’t nation constructing.”
He refused to set a timetable.
“I might by no means cling a timeframe,” he stated when pressed on how lengthy operations could proceed. “We’ll execute on the president’s phrases.”
Lawmakers from each events have referred to as for categorized briefings and signaled they’ll study the administration’s authority below the Struggle Powers Decision. Hegseth didn’t handle particular authorized provisions throughout the on-camera session.
Warplanes, Carriers and Cyber Energy Hit Iran
The Pentagon stated greater than 1,000 targets had been hit within the first 24 hours. Leaders confirmed tens of hundreds of items of ordnance have been delivered since operations started.
Two service strike teams—USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln—are working within the area. The Ford’s prolonged deployment and speedy repositioning towards this disaster has been a key readiness sign as tensions climbed.
The Pentagon additionally confirmed the lack of three U.S. Air Pressure F-15E plane in a single day. Caine stated the jets weren’t downed by hostile fireplace and that the incident stays below investigation.
Business air journey and regional basing have additionally come below strain because the battle widens throughout the Center East.
US Deaths Confirmed, Extra Probably
Hegseth confirmed that 4 Individuals have been killed for the reason that operation started and stated extra losses are anticipated.
“Because the president warned, an effort of this scope will embody casualties,” he stated.
He described one strike by which an Iranian missile penetrated layered air defenses and hit a fortified tactical operations heart. He didn’t determine the placement.
Pentagon officers stated U.S. and companion air defenses have intercepted lots of of ballistic missiles and one-way assault drones for the reason that marketing campaign started. Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia are working air protection programs alongside U.S. Patriot and Terminal Excessive Altitude Space Protection (THAAD) batteries.
Iran has additionally demonstrated its attain by hanging close to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, in accordance with regional reporting tied to the identical escalation cycle.
There aren’t any American boots on the bottom inside Iran, Hegseth added. He declined to stipulate limits on future motion.
“Why on this planet would we inform the enemy what we’ll or is not going to do?” he stated.
U.S. Central Command has described the marketing campaign as a coordinated air, maritime and cyber operation throughout a number of theaters, emphasizing pressure safety, regional air protection integration and sustained strike sequencing towards missile infrastructure.
The Struggle Powers Decision requires the president to inform Congress inside 48 hours of introducing U.S. forces into hostilities and limits deployments to 60 days with out congressional authorization, until lawmakers approve an extension or declare warfare.
