BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to calm fears of an open-ended regional war on Monday, declaring that the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran would not devolve into a prolonged occupation or nation-building effort.
“This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” Hegseth said during the administration’s first formal Pentagon briefing since the launch of large-scale strikes over the weekend.
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Flanked by Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hegseth described the operation as a focused effort with limited and clearly defined objectives: neutralizing Iran’s missile capabilities, dismantling elements of its navy and ensuring it cannot field nuclear weapons.
The remarks came as the conflict widened across the Middle East, with Iranian forces and allied armed groups firing missiles and drones toward Israel, Gulf Arab states and U.S. military installations. The fighting has already claimed American lives, and senior officials have acknowledged more casualties are likely.
President Donald Trump has not held a live press conference since the strikes began, opting instead for select phone interviews and prerecorded video messages. In one interview, he suggested the campaign could continue for “four to five weeks,” though Pentagon officials declined to commit to a specific timeline.
Hegseth emphasized that the mission was designed to be decisive rather than indefinite. “No nation-building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise,” he said. “We fight to win, and we don’t waste time or lives.”
Pressed on whether U.S. ground forces were operating inside Iran, Hegseth responded that there were no “boots on the ground” at present but declined to rule out future options. He characterized demands for a detailed public roadmap as unrealistic during active combat operations, arguing that outlining limits in advance would undermine operational security.
The defense secretary also rejected the characterization of the campaign as a regime-change war, despite the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. “This is not a so-called regime change war,” Hegseth said, while adding that the change in leadership had made the world safer.
The briefing unfolded against the backdrop of mounting instability. Four American service members have been killed since the operation began. Trump acknowledged Sunday that additional U.S. casualties were likely. Caine told reporters the military anticipates further losses as the campaign continues.
“We grieve with you, and we will never forget you,” Caine said, addressing families of the fallen.
The volatile operating environment was underscored by an incident involving Kuwait, a U.S. ally, which “mistakenly shot down” three American F-15E Strike Eagles during a complex engagement that included Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones. U.S. Central Command said all six pilots ejected safely and were in stable condition.
Despite the expanding scope of hostilities, U.S. officials have not publicly articulated an exit strategy. The death of Khamenei has cast uncertainty over Iran’s political future, raising questions about internal succession and regional stability.
In justifying the campaign, Hegseth portrayed Iran’s leadership as having waged a decades-long campaign of hostility toward the United States. He argued that Tehran’s ballistic missile and drone programs posed a growing threat, describing them as tools intended to provide a conventional shield for nuclear coercion.
While critics have questioned whether there was an imminent nuclear threat, Hegseth maintained that earlier joint operations by the United States and Israel had already “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. He said the current phase focuses primarily on degrading missile systems, naval capabilities and command networks.
Caine provided new operational details, saying Trump authorized the strikes at 3:38 p.m. EST on Friday while aboard Air Force One. The campaign, dubbed “Epic Fury,” has included long-range sorties by B-2 stealth bombers conducting round-trip missions lasting 37 hours. The chairman highlighted the integration of cyber operations, which he said disrupted Iranian communications and sensor networks, limiting the adversary’s ability to coordinate a coherent response.
Without elaborating on specific targets, Caine described the operation as delivering “synchronized and layered effects” aimed at disrupting, degrading and destroying Iran’s capacity to sustain combat operations against U.S. forces and allies.
Casualty figures continue to climb across the region. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports at least 555 fatalities in Iran since the start of the U.S.-Israeli strikes. Israeli authorities say 11 people have been killed by Iranian missile attacks, while Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports 31 deaths amid Israeli retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed groups.
Diplomatic and political fallout is intensifying in Washington as well. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was scheduled to brief congressional leadership, with a broader classified session planned for the full Congress. CIA Director John Ratcliffe is also expected to participate.
According to individuals familiar with private briefings to congressional staff, U.S. intelligence assessments did not indicate that Iran was preparing an immediate preemptive strike against American territory before the U.S.-Israeli assault began. Officials instead pointed to a broader and persistent regional threat posed by Iranian missiles and proxy forces. One source said administration officials nonetheless described the danger to U.S. personnel and allies as imminent.
That nuanced assessment appears to diverge from public statements by Trump, who framed the campaign as eliminating “imminent threats” from Tehran.
As the administration navigates both a fast-moving battlefield and mounting scrutiny at home, officials are attempting to strike a careful balance: projecting resolve, limiting expectations of a drawn-out war and preserving strategic flexibility.
Whether the operation remains as contained as its architects intend may ultimately depend less on Washington’s declarations and more on how Iran and its allies respond in the days and weeks ahead.
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