"This is not 2003": US War Secy vows to defeat enemy, launches intense strikes in Iran

Washington DC : United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, on Tuesday declared that the US is winning a "decisive victory" against the Iranian regime.

Marking the tenth day of Operation Epic Fury, leadership outlined a campaign defined by total air dominance and the systematic dismantling of Iran's military infrastructure in a high-stakes press briefing.
Secretary Hegseth underscored a shift in American military doctrine, distancing the current administration from the "endless nation-building" of previous decades. "Those days are dead," Hegseth stated. "Instead, we're winning decisively with brutal efficiency and an unbreakable will to accomplish the President's objectives."
Hegseth said that Trump is winning against the regime, as against former President Barack Obama.
"This is not endless nation-building under the quagmires we saw under Bush or Obama... Our generation of soldiers will not let that happen again, and nor will this president, who very clearly ran against those never-ending, nebulous missions. Those days are dead. Instead, we're winning decisively with brutal efficiency, total air dominance, and an unbreakable will to accomplish the president's objectives on our timeline," he said.
Hegseth said, "We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated. But we do so on our timeline and at our choosing. Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes. Intelligence is more refined and better than ever... On the other hand, the last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest number of missiles they've been capable of firing yet... This is not 2003," he said.
Hegseth said that Trump will never allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon.

"Operation Epic Fury hits home. Our generation understands this fight. For 47 years, these barbaric savages in the Iranian regime have murdered our brothers in arms through their terrorist proxies and cowardly attacks. Now they race toward a nuclear bomb to hold the world hostage... That race to a nuclear bomb, President Trump will never allow it," he said.
Hegseth further said that Iran is using civilian facilities like hospitals and schools to fire missiles.
"The 'mullahs' are desperate and scrambling. Like the terrorist cowards they are, they fire missiles from schools and hospitals, deliberately targeting innocents because they know their military is being systematically degraded and annihilated," he said.
Hegseth added how Iran's allies have abandoned it, and their proxies are ineffective.
"Iran's neighbours and, in some cases, former allies in the Gulf, have abandoned them. Their proxies, Hezbollah, Houthis and Hamas, are either broken, ineffective or on the sidelines. Iran stands alone, and they are badly losing. On day 10 of Operation Epic Fury, we are winning with an overwhelming and unrelenting focus on our objectives... They're straightforward, and we are executing them with ruthless precision," he said.
Hegseth outlined that the US aims to destroy Iran's missile stockpiles, navy and deny it nuclear weapons.
"One, destroy their missile stockpiles, missile launchers, and their defence industrial base... Two, destroy their Navy. And three, permanently deny Iran nuclear weapons forever. It's a laser-focused, maximum-authority mission delivered with overwhelming and unrelenting precision. No hesitation. No half measures," he said.
Hegseth said that the US President Donald Trump has a specific agenda, and they are giving him maximum options.
"Where we are is in a very strong place -- giving the President of the United States maximum options... The President has set a very specific mission to accomplish, and our job is to unrelentingly deliver," he said.
US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, said that the US has hit over 5,000 targets in Iran.

"To date, we've struck more than 5,000 targets. Iranian ballistic missile attacks are down 90%, and one-way attack drones are down 83%. We've struck more than 50 Iranian naval ships," he said.
Caine also expressed his condolences for the fallen soldiers in the operation.
"Last night, we honoured the return of Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington... to the Penningtons, just know how Ben was absolutely a great one. And finally, Major Sorffly Davius, who returned home this weekend after sadly passing away from a medical condition while on duty in Kuwait... to the families and the families of all of our fallen, we share in your profound grief. The joint force remains eternally grateful for your sacrifice... their names will never be forgotten," he said.

Caine added, "We're in the 10th, moving into the 11th day of Operation Epic Fury. The Joint Force remains focused on three military objectives. Continue to destroy Iranian ballistic missiles and drone capability to prevent attacks on the US and others throughout the region... Second, we continue to strike the Iranian Navy and their capabilities to do things like sustain movement through the Strait of Hormuz. Third, we continue to start working on and going deeper into Iran's military and industrial base to prevent the regime from being able to attack Americans, our interests, and our partners for years to come and project power outside their borders."
Moreover, the US Department of War provided a timeline on Operation Epic Fury, a high-intensity US-led military campaign against Iran that commenced on February 28, 2026.
The operation began at approximately 02:00 EST on day 1. US and Israeli forces launched coordinated "decapitation" strikes across Iran, targeting military command centres and nuclear facilities. Reports confirmed the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On day 2, Israeli Air Superiority was established. Strikes continued throughout the day (approx. 23:00 EST), focusing on crippling Iran's air defence network. On day 3, US Bomber Pulses (B-2s, B-1s, and B-52s) intensified. Large-scale strikes targeted missile depots and industrial military sites.
On day 4, US naval dominance was asserted. No Iranian warships remained active in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, or the Gulf of Oman. On day 5, US nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) sank a major Iranian warship (later identified as the frigate IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka). Simultaneously, Iran retaliated by striking the M/V Sonangol Namibe with an "One-Way Attack Unmanned Aerial System" (OWAUAS) near Basra.
On day 6, US forces located and struck a 40,000-ton IRGC-N UAV Carrier, a significant blow to Iran's maritime drone capabilities. On day 9, March 7, a multi-axis LUCAS Strike (likely referring to Long-range Unmanned Combat Air System) was executed, further dismantling Iranian infrastructure.
On day 10, March 9, by the tenth day, an estimated 50 Iranian naval vessels were confirmed "out of action," and over 3,000 targets had been struck across the country.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rejected US claims that its missile programme has been destroyed, says it is deploying projectiles in greater numbers, and with warheads weighing more than 1 tonne, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Trump threatened to hit Iran "20 times harder" if it stops oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, hours after saying the war could end "very soon," as per Al Jazeera.