US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has confirmed that Operation Epic Fury will continue without a public timeline, following joint US–Israel strikes on Iran that began on 28 February 2026.
Speaking at the Pentagon, Hegseth described the campaign as “the most lethal, most complex and most precise aerial operation in history” and said the United States “didn’t start this war, but we’ll finish it.” He accused the Iranian regime of waging war against the US for “47 long years” through proxy attacks.
Hegseth said the mission is “laser-focused” on destroying Iranian offensive missiles, missile production, naval assets and security infrastructure to ensure “they will never have nuclear weapons.” He added: “This is not a so-called regime change war,” while arguing that “the regime sure did change and the world is better off for it.”
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, detailed the operational timeline and warned further US casualties are possible.
More than 1,000 targets were struck in the first 24 hours. US Cyber Command and Space Command disrupted Iranian communications before air operations. Four US service members have been killed. There are currently no US “boots on the ground,” though officials declined to rule out future steps.
Hegseth reiterated that the operation “is not endless,” stating the president will determine its duration.
ℹ️ The Guardian, Türkiye Today
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