US Defense Secretary: We are working aggressively in Iranian airspace… and the coming days will be decisive.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that US forces are operating “vigorously in Iranian airspace,” stressing that “the coming days will be critical” as military operations continue and Iranian capabilities decline.
Hegseth added at a press conference that US forces are “bombing deep inside Iran with force,” noting communication with members of the Navy and Air Force “who are shooting down Iranian missiles and drones,” and stressing that “our forces have lethal capabilities and our pilots are operating with high efficiency in Iran.”
He explained that “Operation Epic Wrath focuses on speed of execution in order to achieve victory,” indicating that the soldiers “did not ask to return home but asked me to complete the mission and provide them with bombs and targets,” noting that the American forces “face the Iranian threat daily and are aware of the dangers of Iran possessing nuclear weapons.”
He continued, “Our war is linked to history and heritage, and our success in it is important, and we are closer to victory than ever before,” stressing that “the coming days will be decisive, and Iran knows that.”
He noted that “in the past few hours we have seen the lowest number of missiles launched by Iran,” stressing that “the Iranians’ capabilities are declining and our central command confirms that they have a leadership deficit.”
Hegseth also confirmed “what President Trump said, that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” adding that “we don’t see many pictures from inside Iran because they have cut off the internet.”
He noted that “there has been a change in the new Iranian regime and it needs to be wiser,” adding that “if Iran is wise, it will agree to the deal on offer.” He also said that he “visited the Middle East on Saturday and spoke to our forces there.”
The US Secretary of Defense threatened that “the United States will continue its military operations with greater intensity if Iran refuses to sign a peace agreement,” noting that “Trump wants to reach an agreement with Iran and Tehran is aware of Washington’s conditions.”
For his part, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Keane said during the conference that the forces “continue to destroy and undermine Iran’s capabilities,” stressing “the continued destruction of missile and drone capabilities as well as manufacturing operations.”
He added that US forces “bombed more than 11,000 targets and achieved air superiority that allowed the use of B-52 bombers,” noting the “destruction of more than 150 Iranian ships.”
The US Chief of Staff affirmed “continuing to impose dominance over the Iranian Navy and focusing on targeting its mine-laying capabilities.”
Shafaq.com