The United States has pledged to press ahead with its military campaign against Iran as the conflict widens, with senior defense officials insisting the operation has clear objectives and is not open-ended.
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During a press conference at the United States Department of Defense headquarters, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine outlined the goals of Operation Epic Fury, launched on February 28 in coordination with Israel.
“Destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their navy and other security infrastructure, and they will never have nuclear weapons.”@SecWar Pete Hegseth outlines Operation Epic Fury at the Pentagon. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lxPNhoTgTU
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 2, 2026
Hegseth framed the conflict as the culmination of decades of tensions, citing past attacks on American forces. “We didn’t start this war, but we’re finishing it,” he said, adding that the campaign is focused on dismantling Iran’s missile systems, degrading its missile production facilities, targeting naval assets, and preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Pentagon confirmed that four US service members have been killed since the start of the operation, with the latest casualty succumbing to injuries from Iranian counterattacks. Officials warned that further losses remain possible as military operations continue.
Hegseth stressed that no American ground troops have entered Iranian territory, though he declined to rule out future options. Additional US forces are being deployed to the Middle East to support ongoing operations.
Addressing concerns about the duration of the conflict, Hegseth said the campaign would not resemble prolonged wars such as Iraq, but acknowledged that eliminating Iranian capabilities would not happen overnight. He noted that the timeline would ultimately depend on strategic assessments by President Donald Trump.
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While rejecting suggestions that the operation seeks regime change, Hegseth described the recent leadership transition in Iran as a consequential development, though not the mission’s primary objective.