United States defence secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran were deliberate and limited in scope but warned the campaign could produce more American casualties in coming weeks, asserting, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless.” Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held the Trump administration’s first in-person briefing since Saturday’s operation while President Donald Trump released video statements and brief remarks but did not take questions.
Officials described the operation as aimed at eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile threat, degrading its navy and preventing any nuclear breakout. Trump said Iran’s conventional missile program “was growing rapidly and dramatically” and posed “a very clear, colossal threat” to U.S. forces overseas. Hegseth called the mission “decisive,” saying the strikes targeted missiles, drones and naval assets and stressed the aim was “no nukes.”
Administration leaders offered no clear exit strategy and acknowledged uncertainty after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which they said has intensified regional instability. Hegseth rejected characterising the campaign as a regime‑change operation—“This is not a so‑called regime‑change war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it,” he said-while Trump urged members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and other forces in video messages to lay down arms and for Iranians “to take back your country.”
The conflict has spread across the region, with Iran and allied groups launching missiles at Israel, Arab states and U.S. targets. Four American troops have been killed in action; Hegseth, Caine and Trump warned more U.S. casualties are likely but offered limited detail about the circumstances. Gen. Caine paid tribute to the fallen, saying, “We grieve with you, and we will never forget you.”
The U.S. military also reported that Kuwait “mistakenly shot down” three American F-15E jets during a combat mission amid Iranian air, missile and drone attacks; all six pilots ejected and were reported in stable condition. When asked whether U.S. ground forces were in Iran, Hegseth replied, “No,” while declining to detail future options; Trump told the New York Post he would not rule out deploying forces “if they were necessary.”
Officials said the strikes included long‑range B‑2 stealth bomber missions-including a reported 37‑hour round trip-and use of penetrating bunker‑busting munitions on underground facilities, along with cyber operations that disrupted Iranian communications and sensors. U.S. Central Command said more than 1,000 targets were struck over the weekend; military leaders said effects were synchronised and layered to “degrade, deny and destroy” Iran’s ability to sustain combat operations. Gen. Caine said Trump authorised the strikes at 3:38 p.m. EST on Friday while aboard Air Force One. Administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the CIA director, were scheduled to brief congressional leaders and the full Congress this week.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/no-us-boots-on-iran-yet-but-will-go-as-far-as-needed-pete-hegseth-11159583#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-03-03 00:35:00
