New Delhi: In a rare on-camera briefing at the Pentagon, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine provided the first detailed public update on “Operation Epic Fury,” the massive U.S.-Israel joint military campaign against Iran that has entered its third day and already resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The press conference, which began around 8 a.m. EST (6:30 p.m. IST), was widely anticipated after the Department of War’s official X account (@DeptofWar) and Secretary Hegseth’s account (@SecWar) teased the event in posts over the weekend. The briefing comes as U.S. and Israeli forces continue coordinated airstrikes across Iran, targeting nuclear sites, ballistic missile infrastructure, naval assets, and command centers.
“This is not a regime-change war, but the regime sure did change,” Hegseth declared in one of the briefing’s most pointed remarks, referencing the killing of Khamenei in strikes on his compound in Tehran. He stressed that the operation is “laser-focused” and explicitly not an open-ended conflict like the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Core Objectives: ‘Destroy the Missile Threat, Destroy the Navy, No Nukes’
Hegseth opened the briefing by outlining the three-part mission, authorized directly by President Donald J. Trump:
1. Destroy Iran’s offensive ballistic missile arsenal and production facilities.
2. Cripple the Iranian navy and associated security infrastructure.
3. Permanently prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“This operation is a clear, devastating, decisive mission,” Hegseth said. “Destroy Iranian missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their navy and other security infrastructure — and they will never have nuclear weapons.”
He framed the strikes as a long-overdue response to nearly 50 years of Iranian aggression, including attacks on U.S. personnel, sponsorship of terrorism, and attempts to develop nuclear weapons while “lying” to the international community. “Iran had a conventional gun to our head as they tried to lie their way to a nuclear bomb,” Hegseth stated. “The Iranian regime had their chance, yet refused to make a deal — and now they are suffering the consequences.”
Echoing President Trump’s long-standing position, Hegseth added: “As President Trump has said his entire life, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. If you kill or threaten Americans anywhere in the world — as Iran has — then we will hunt you down, and we will kill you.”
Gen. Caine Details the Operation’s Execution
Gen. Dan Caine, the Air Force general serving as the nation’s top military officer, provided operational specifics, describing the mission as “the most lethal, most complex, and most-precise aerial operation in history.”
Caine recounted the timeline: On Friday afternoon, President Trump issued the order — “Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck.” Within hours, U.S. forces worldwide mobilized. By early Saturday morning (local time in the region), more than 100 aircraft — including B-2 bombers, fighter jets, electronic warfare platforms, and unmanned systems — launched in a synchronized wave alongside Israeli forces and U.S. Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The first strikes hit Iranian naval targets on the southern flank and key ground facilities. “This was a daylight strike based on their trigger event,” Caine explained, noting that U.S. intelligence enabled precise targeting. Battle damage assessments are ongoing, and future strikes will be adjusted accordingly.
Caine acknowledged that losses were expected. “We expected to take additional losses,” he said, confirming that U.S. forces have no “boots on the ground” inside Iran.
Casualties and Setbacks Reported
The briefing occurred amid reports of U.S. losses. A fourth American service member was confirmed killed Monday after a tactical command center was struck. Three additional deaths occurred over the weekend. In a separate incident, Kuwaiti air defenses mistakenly shot down three U.S. F-15 fighter jets in a friendly-fire event over Kuwait; all crew members ejected safely.
Iranian casualties are significantly higher. The Iranian Red Crescent has reported 555 deaths inside Iran from the strikes. At least 11 people have been killed in Israel from Iranian retaliation. Smoke was reported rising from the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait following an apparent Iranian missile strike.
Not ‘Endless War’- Trump Orders Continue Until Objectives Met
Both officials repeatedly rejected comparisons to past Middle East wars. “This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” Hegseth said, drawing on his own experience as a veteran. “I was there for both — our generation knows better, and so does this president. He called the last 20 years of nation-building wars dumb and he’s right. This is the opposite.”
President Trump, in a Sunday statement, said the operation would continue “until all of our objectives are achieved,” estimating it could last “four weeks or less” while cautioning that more American casualties are possible.
The White House has described Operation Epic Fury as the culmination of “peace through strength” after 47 years of Iranian threats. In a related statement, the administration noted the strikes have “sunk the mothership of terrorism” and left the Iranian regime severely weakened.
Background and Broader Context
The operation was triggered after Iran refused diplomatic overtures and continued advancing its nuclear program while threatening global shipping and U.S. allies. Strikes have targeted not only military sites but also locations linked to Khamenei’s inner circle.
Hegseth closed the briefing on a note of faith, invoking “God’s providence” to protect U.S. service members. He is scheduled to brief Congress alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday.
The Department of War’s X post announcing and live-posting elements of the press conference has garnered widespread attention, reflecting the operation’s historic scale and the administration’s transparent approach to communicating with the public during active combat.
As the situation in the Middle East remains fluid, officials emphasized that the mission remains tightly scoped on eliminating immediate threats rather than occupying territory or pursuing broader regime change. With Iranian retaliation ongoing and regional allies on high alert, the coming days will determine whether Operation Epic Fury achieves its decisive goals or escalates further.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.