Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Mar 3: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday sought to quell fears that the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran could spiral into a prolonged regional war, asserting, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” even as he cautioned that more American casualties are likely in the coming weeks.
Hegseth, accompanied by Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed the media in the Trump administration’s first formal briefing since Saturday’s military action. US President Donald Trump has so far limited his remarks to brief public comments and video statements, without taking questions.
Trump said Iran’s conventional missile programme had been “growing rapidly and dramatically,” posing what he described as a “clear, colossal threat” to American forces stationed overseas.
Hegseth maintained that the operation had a “decisive mission” — to eliminate the threat of Iranian ballistic missiles, dismantle its naval capabilities and ensure that Tehran would have “no nukes.” However, he stressed that it was “not a so-called regime-change war.”
“The regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it,” he remarked, adding that the US was not embarking on any “nation-building quagmire” or “democracy-building exercise.”
The conflict has intensified following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, casting uncertainty over the future of the Islamic Republic and fuelling instability across West Asia. Iran and allied armed groups have launched missiles at Israel, Arab states and US military positions in the region.
Four American troops have been killed in action so far. While Hegseth and Caine did not provide details on the circumstances, both acknowledged that further casualties were possible. “We grieve with you, and we will never forget you,” Caine said, addressing the families of the fallen soldiers.
In a further sign of the widening conflict, US Central Command confirmed that Kuwait had “mistakenly shot down” three American F-15E Strike Eagles during a combat mission amid Iranian missile and drone attacks. All six pilots ejected safely and were reported to be in stable condition.
When asked whether US boots were currently on the ground in Iran, Hegseth replied, “No,” but declined to rule out future options. “It would be foolishness to say publicly exactly how far we’ll go,” he said. Trump, in an interview, said he was not ruling out deploying US forces if “necessary,” adding, “I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground.”
At the White House, Trump indicated that operations could last four to five weeks, though he added that the US has the capability to continue far longer if required. Hegseth said the timeline remained flexible and subject to the president’s discretion.
In justifying the strikes, Hegseth did not cite an imminent nuclear threat but argued that Iran’s development of ballistic missiles and drones created a “conventional shield” for what he termed “nuclear blackmail ambitions.” He said US bases, personnel and allies were in Tehran’s crosshairs.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that in private briefings to Congress, US intelligence officials said there was no evidence Iran was preparing an immediate preemptive strike against the United States, though administration officials have publicly referred to “imminent threats.”
Gen. Caine revealed that B-2 stealth bombers were used in the operation, undertaking a 37-hour round trip to drop penetrating bombs on underground facilities. He also highlighted the use of cyber capabilities that disrupted Iranian communications and sensor networks, hampering their ability to coordinate a response.
According to US Central Command, more than 1,000 targets have been struck since the start of the campaign, including missile sites and naval assets. Trump authorised the operation at 3:38 pm EST on Friday while aboard Air Force One.
Hegseth, Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe are scheduled to brief members of Congress as the administration faces mounting scrutiny over the scope and objectives of the expanding conflict.