Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday defended the expanding U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, describing it as precise, mission-driven and necessary to counter Tehran’s missile capabilities and nuclear ambitions. Standing beside Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the operation is narrowly aimed, and will not become another prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
“The mission of Operation Epic Fury is laser-focused,” Hegseth said, outlining objectives that include eliminating Iran’s offensive missile systems, crippling missile production, dismantling naval assets and preventing the country from ever obtaining nuclear weapons. He added that U.S. forces are striking “surgically, overwhelmingly and unapologetically.”
The campaign, launched over the weekend by U.S. and Israeli forces, has already resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, along with other senior figures. President Donald Trump authorized the operation Friday, approving what officials call “Operation Epic Fury.”
While Trump has suggested the conflict could continue “four weeks or less” — and in another interview estimated four to five weeks — Hegseth declined to commit to a timetable. “President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take,” he said, stressing the military will execute the mission as directed. At the same time, he rejected comparisons to past wars, stating, “This is not Iraq,” and insisting the effort would not be “endless.”
Hegseth confirmed there are currently no U.S. “boots on the ground” in Iran but would not rule out future options. He framed the strikes as retaliation, arguing that Iran’s “stubborn and self-evident nuclear pursuit,” ballistic missile expansion and attacks on global shipping left the U.S. little choice. “We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it,” he said. “Their war on Americans has become our retribution against their Ayatollah and his death cult.”
Despite the killing of Iran’s top leader, Hegseth denied the mission is about regime change. “This is not a so-called regime-change war,” he said, though he added that the outcome has altered Iran’s leadership and “the world is better off for it.”
Gen. Caine detailed the scope of the opening assault: more than 100 aircraft launched in a coordinated wave from land and sea, alongside unmanned systems. U.S. Navy Tomahawk missiles struck first, targeting Iranian naval forces along the country’s southern coast. Cyber operations disrupted communications and air defenses, and B-2 bombers carried out lengthy round-trip missions reminiscent of last year’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Caine cautioned that the campaign amounts to “major combat operations” and acknowledged the likelihood of further casualties. Four U.S. service members have been killed so far after Iran struck a fortified tactical command center. “We expected to take additional losses,” he said.
The conflict has rapidly widened. Iran and allied forces have launched missile attacks on Israel, U.S. installations and Gulf nations. At least 11 people have been reported killed in Israel, while the Iranian Red Crescent says 555 people have died in Iran. In Kuwait, three U.S. F-15E fighter jets were downed in what Central Command described as a friendly fire incident; all crew members survived. Smoke was also seen rising from the U.S. Embassy there following an apparent missile strike.
As battle damage assessments continue, U.S. officials maintain the operation remains focused on degrading Iran’s military capabilities rather than occupying the country. “No nation-building quagmire,” Hegseth said. “We fight to win.”
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