On Thursday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated at the Central Command (CENTCOM) in Florida that Iran’s retaliatory strikes against neighboring countries were a serious strategic miscalculation. Instead of isolating the United States, these actions have pushed Gulf countries that were originally hoping to remain neutral into the “American orbit”.
As the military operation codenamed “Operation Epic Fury” continues to advance, the US military is preparing to significantly increase its firepower against Tehran.
Hegseth pointed out that Iran’s attacks on allied nations have strengthened regional cooperation. Countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan have issued a joint statement strongly condemning Iran’s reckless attacks.
In his briefing, Hegseth said, “By attacking allies who wanted to stay out of the conflict, Iran has actually drawn them into the American camp.”
Furthermore, the US has resolved its initial disagreements with the UK regarding strategic base usage during the conflict. Currently, bases under UK control have been fully integrated into US airstrikes.
Regarding military progress, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, confirmed that the US military’s strategic objectives have shifted towards “systematically dismantling Iran’s missile production industrial base” to ensure they lose the ability to rebuild their military capabilities.
Just an hour before the press conference, the US military deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, dropping dozens of 2,000-pound bunker buster bombs to precisely destroy buried Iranian ballistic missile launchers.
Cooper stated that in the past 72 hours, joint forces have hit approximately 200 targets deep within Iran. He emphasized, “We are not only targeting their existing equipment, but also destroying their rebuilding capabilities.”
“It is worth noting that we have also targeted Iranian institutions equivalent to the US Space Command, weakening Iran’s capacity to threaten Americans,” Cooper said.
Hegseth added that the US military’s ammunition reserves are plentiful, and subsequent firepower deployments will be several times greater than current levels. “Our will is unbreakable, meaning the timing of our actions is determined solely by us,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the expansion of the war zone, Hegseth dismissed them, stating that Iran’s actions have actually fostered “unity among resistance forces,” making the battlefield objectives more clear. He said, “Claims that the conflict is expanding are unfounded. In fact, in many ways, this has simplified what our objectives are and how to achieve them.”
Additionally, Hegseth publicly refuted false information spread by Iran. He clarified that reports of US F-15 fighter jets being shot down and 500 US troops killed were pure fabrications concocted by the Iranian government for propaganda purposes.
General Cooper pointed out that the Middle East currently has the “highest level of integration in history” for its air defense network. The US military and regional partners are standing shoulder to shoulder, ensuring the mission’s success.