War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the United States and Israel are decisively winning the war against Iran, describing the first days of the campaign as “historic.”
Hegseth delivered the remarks during a press briefing alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine as the U.S.-led operation against the Iranian regime continues.
“America is winning decisively, devastatingly, and without mercy,” Hegseth declared.
“Only the United States of America could lead this. Only us.
“But when you add the Israeli Defense Forces, a devastatingly capable force, the combination is sheer destruction for our radical Islamist Iranian adversaries.”
“They are toast, and they know it,” he added.
U.S. Claims Control of Iranian Airspace
Hegseth said U.S. and Israeli forces have already achieved complete control of Iranian airspace, allowing the coalition to target key military infrastructure across the country.
More American fighter jets and bombers are continuing to arrive in the region to support the campaign, he said.
“It means we will fly all day, all night, day and night, finding, fixing and finishing the missiles and defense industrial base of the Iranian military,” Hegseth said.
“Finding and fixing their leaders and their military leaders.”
With control of the skies, Hegseth said the United States is employing a range of precision-guided munitions.
“With complete control of Iranian skies, we will be using 500 lbs., 1,000 lbs., and 2,000 lbs. GPS and laser-guided, precision gravity bombs,” Hegseth said.
“We can sustain this fight easily, for as long as we need to,” he added.
“And as I said yesterday, we set the terms.”
Operation Epic Fury Expands
The remarks came days after U.S. strikes eliminated Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and targeted the regime’s military leadership and infrastructure.
The broader military campaign has been dubbed Operation Epic Fury.
President Donald Trump has said the operation has significantly weakened Iran’s military.
According to administration officials, Iran’s naval and air capabilities have been heavily damaged.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the decision to strike Iran ultimately rested with the president.
“The president made the decision to go after them, take away their missiles, take away their Navy, take away their drones, take away their ability to make those things, so they can never have a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said.
Conflict Sparks Debate in Washington
The initial strike also resulted in the deaths of at least six U.S. service members, and Iran has launched retaliatory attacks against neighboring countries, raising concerns about a broader regional conflict.
The operation has divided lawmakers in Washington.
Democrats have questioned whether Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon posed an imminent threat requiring military action.
“The rationales change by the hour,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.
“Regime change, nuclear weapons, missiles, defense, preemptive, which is it?”
Republicans, however, have largely supported the strikes.
“The fact that the ayatollah is out of there and a good amount of his leadership team makes this world and our country safer,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said.
“And I don’t think there is any question about that.”
Congress Prepares War Powers Votes
Both the House and Senate are expected to vote on war powers resolutions that would require congressional authorization for any further military strikes against Iran.
Some anti-Trump Democrats have supported the measure.
However, others are expected to oppose it out of concern that it could restrict U.S. military operations.
Current projections indicate the resolutions are unlikely to pass in either chamber.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has indicated it is prepared to continue the campaign until Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities are fully neutralized.
READ MORE – Nato Chief Confirms U.S Intelligence: Iran Was ‘Close’ to Developing Nuclear Weapon
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