Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Monday that the joint United States-Israel operation targeting Iran would not become a “nation-building quagmire” and is focused on destroying Iranian missile production and military capabilities.
“The mission of Operation Epic Fury is laser-focused: destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their Navy and other security infrastructure, and they will never have nuclear weapons,” Hegseth said. “We’re hitting them surgically, overwhelmingly, and unapologetically. With every passing day, our capabilities get stronger, and Iran’s get weaker.”
“We set the terms of this war, from start to finish. Our ambitions are not utopian; they are realistic, scoped to our interests and the defense of our people and our allies,” he added.
Hegseth said that this operation was not a “regime change war,” though he added that the “regime sure did change.” He also said the situation would not unfold like in Iraq or Afghanistan, saying President Donald Trump would handle the conflict differently.
Trump criticized the Iraq war when he first ran for president in 2015, arguing that the decision to invade was a mistake.
“This is not Iraq,” Hegseth said. “This is not endless. 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. This operation is a clear, devastating, decisive mission. Destroy the missile threat, destroy the Navy, no nukes.”
“No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win, and we don’t waste time or lives,” he added.
Since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran over the weekend, four American service members have been killed in action. Three were killed during an Iranian strike on Kuwait, and the fourth later died from injuries sustained during that same attack.
Trump said on Sunday that it was “likely” more American troops would be killed in action as the operations against Iran continue. Hegseth reiterated that point on Monday.
“As the president warned, an effort of this scope will include casualties. War is hell, and always will be. A grateful nation honors the four Americans we have lost thus far, and those injured. The absolute best of America,” Hegseth said. “May we prosecute the remainder of this operation in a manner that honors them.”
Trump has said that he expects the U.S. military to continue strikes this week.
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