Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a leader tied to an Iranian unit accused of targeting President Donald Trump was killed during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that U.S. forces killed the leader of an Iranian unit accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during the early stages of Operation Epic Fury.
Speaking alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine during a Pentagon press conference, Hegseth said the Iranian operative was “hunted down and killed” after American forces had the opportunity to strike individuals involved in threats against U.S. citizens.
The strike occurred as part of the U.S. and Israeli military campaign targeting Iran’s missile, drone, naval and nuclear-related military infrastructure.
Hegseth said the individual linked to the assassination plot was not the primary objective of the operation but became a target once intelligence identified the opportunity.
“Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh,” Hegseth said.
The Iranian leadership had previously broadcast imagery connected to the 2024 rally shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, airing footage on state television accompanied by a warning message stating that “this time, the bullet won’t miss.”
Pentagon officials described the first several days of Operation Epic Fury as significantly weakening Iran’s ability to conduct missile and drone operations across the region.
Caine said Iranian theater ballistic missile launches had dropped 86 percent compared to the first day of the conflict. He added that missile activity declined an additional 23 percent during the previous 24 hours.
Iran’s one-way attack drone launches have also fallen sharply, with Caine saying those operations were down 73 percent compared with the initial days of fighting.
According to the Pentagon, U.S. forces have struck more than 2,000 targets since the campaign began.
Military planners said the operation is now shifting from long-range “standoff” weapons to “stand-in” precision strikes as American and Israeli aircraft gain greater freedom to operate over Iranian territory.
Hegseth said the pace of the campaign has allowed the United States and Israel to establish effective control of Iranian airspace within days.
He said Iranian launch sites, production facilities and leadership targets will continue to face sustained pressure as the operation progresses.
Pentagon officials also highlighted maritime developments during the briefing.
Caine said U.S. forces have destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels during the conflict and have largely neutralized Iran’s primary naval capabilities in the region.
He also described a naval engagement in which a U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine sank an Iranian warship using a Mark 48 torpedo. Officials said the incident marked the first time an enemy combat vessel had been sunk by torpedo in combat since World War II.
Operation Epic Fury began Feb. 28 under U.S. Central Command, with early strikes focused on Iran’s military infrastructure, including missile launch facilities, drone bases, air defense systems and command-and-control networks.
Hegseth and Caine said the objective of the campaign is to prevent Iran from threatening Americans and allied countries and to eliminate pathways to a nuclear weapons capability.
Both officials also said the United States continues to maintain strong defensive stockpiles and layered air and missile defenses throughout the region as the operation continues.
Original article
Comments