US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine outlined the scale of US operations against Iran during a Pentagon briefing on Thursday (19 March).
Hegseth said more than 7,000 targets have been struck, describing Iran’s military infrastructure, air defences and missile production as significantly degraded.
During the briefing, he added: “The world, the Middle East, our ungrateful allies in Europe, even segments of our own press should be saying one thing to President Trump. Thank you.”
The criticism of European allies comes amid growing transatlantic tensions, with several governments declining to join the US-led campaign, citing legal concerns, limited consultation, and domestic opposition, while prioritising diplomacy, sanctions, and maritime security.
Hegseth also indicated that a reported $200 billion Pentagon funding request for the Iran war “could move”, confirming plans to return to Congress to secure additional resources.
He said the funding would cover ongoing operations, replenish and expand munitions stockpiles, and prepare for potential future action. The scale of the request, alongside estimates of daily war costs reaching around $1 billion, suggests the US may be preparing for a longer conflict than initially projected, with no fixed timeline for achieving its objectives.
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