President says conflict could conclude soon after extensive attacks on Iranian military targets.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the military campaign against Iran may soon conclude, stating that extensive U.S. and Israeli strikes have left “practically nothing left to target.”
In a phone interview reported by Axios, Trump described the conflict as advancing faster than expected and suggested the timing of its conclusion would depend largely on decisions by his administration.
“Little this and that. … Any time I want it to end, it will end,” Trump said.
According to the president, the joint military effort has exceeded initial projections for the level of damage inflicted during the campaign.
“The war is going great. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period,” Trump said.
The conflict has now entered its eleventh day and has included retaliatory actions by Iran as well as shifting timelines from U.S. officials about how long the operation could continue.
Earlier in the conflict, Trump estimated the campaign might last four to five weeks. He said Monday that operations were “pretty much” finished and could conclude soon, but later indicated the possibility of escalating attacks after reports that Iran had begun deploying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. officials said intelligence received Tuesday suggested Iran had started laying mines in the strategic waterway, one of the most important corridors for global oil shipments. Officials indicated the number of mines involved appeared to be limited.
Trump told Axios that U.S. strikes on Tuesday destroyed 16 Iranian vessels believed to be involved in mine-laying operations, disrupting Tehran’s activities in the strait.
Despite Trump’s comments that the war could end soon, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said military operations will continue until Israeli objectives are achieved.
“The war will continue without any time limit, for as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives and decisively win the campaign,” Katz said.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth also indicated the campaign would proceed until its goals are met.
“The U.S. military will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated,” Hegseth said Tuesday, adding that operations will continue “on our timeline and at our choosing.”
U.S. officials have said the main objectives of the campaign include weakening Iran’s naval capabilities, reducing its missile and drone production capacity, and limiting its ability to project military power in the region. Officials have also downplayed suggestions that the campaign is intended to force regime change or eliminate Iran’s nuclear stockpiles.
In a video statement released Wednesday by U.S. Central Command, commander Adm. Brad Cooper said U.S. forces have struck more than 5,500 targets in Iran since the start of the operation.
Those strikes included attacks on more than 60 vessels as well as missile and weapons infrastructure.
“U.S. combat power is building. Iranian combat power is declining,” Cooper said. “And we remain centered on very clear military objectives in eliminating Iran’s ability to project power against Americans and against its neighbors.”
Cooper said Tuesday saw “strike waves nearly every hour” from multiple directions targeting sites across Iran.
He added that Iranian missile and drone launches have declined significantly since the early stages of the campaign.
“Since the first 24 hours of this campaign, Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped drastically,” Cooper said.
Cooper also accused Iran of launching attacks from densely populated areas inside the country.
“Iran has been launching attacks on civilians in Gulf countries from highly populated Iranian cities,” he said.
“U.S. forces continue delivering devastating combat power against the Iranian regime,” Cooper added, noting that American bombers struck a major ballistic missile manufacturing facility overnight.
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