Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine provided an update on Operation Epic Fury and embedded the Trump administration’s focus and narrative in the how and why of the joint campaign with Israel to defeat Iran.
Hegseth cautioned, “This is not a ‘Mission Accomplished’ situation. This is simply a reality check.”
Hegseth began:
With one unmistakable message about Operation Epic Fury. America is winning: decisively, devastatingly, and without mercy. Under the direct command of President Trump, the War Department unleased this operation early Saturday morning — just four days ago. Which means we need to remember two things: First, we are only four days into this. Metrics are shifting, dust is settling, and more forces are arriving. It’s very early, and as President Trump has said, we will take all the time we need to make sure that we succeed.
Second: we are only four days into this. And the results have been incredible. Historic really. Only the United States of America could lead this — only us. But when you add the Israeli Defense Forces, a devastatingly capable force, the combination is sheer destruction for our radical Islamist Iranian adversaries. They are toast. And they know it. Or at least, soon enough, they will know it.
And we have only just begun hunt, dismantle, demoralize and destroy and defeat their capabilities — just four days in.
America and Israel Have Airspace Dominance
Starting last night, and to be completed in a few days, in under a week, the two most powerful air forces in the world will have complete control of Iranian skies – uncontested air space. I hope all the folks watching understand what uncontested airspace and complete control means. It means we will fly all day, all night, day and night, finding, fixing, and finishing the missiles and defense industrial base of the Iranian military. Finding and fixing their leaders, and their military leaders. Flying over Tehran, flying over Iran, flying over their capital, flying over the IRCG, Iranian leaders looking up and seeing only U.S. and Israeli air power, every minute of every day, until we decide it’s over. And Iran will be able to do nothing about it.
B-2s, B-52s, B-1s, Predator Drones, Fighters, controlling the skies, picking targets. Death and destruction from the sky. All. Day. Long.
Not Turning Down, but Ramping UP
We’re playing for keeps. Our war fighters have maximum authorities granted personally by the president and yours truly. Our rules of engagement are bold, precise, and designed to unleash American Power, not shackle it. This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight. We are punching them while they’re down, which is exactly how it should be.
Thus far, Operation Epic Fury has delivered twice the air power of Shock and Awe of Iraq
in 2003, minus Paul Bremer and the nation building. The campaign has seven times the intensity of Israel’s previous operations against Iran during the 12-Day War. Seven times. And as President Trump said, more and larger waves are coming, we are just getting started. We are accelerating, not decelerting. Iran’s capabilities are evaporating by the hour, while American strength grows fiercer, smarter, and utterly dominant. More bombers and more fighters are arriving just today.
And now, with complete control of the skies, we will be using, 500 pound, thousand pound, and 2,000 pound GPS and laser-guided precision gravity bombs, of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile. We used more exquisite stand off munitions at the start, but no longer need to. Our stockpiles of those, as well as patriots remain extremely strong. The enemy can no longer shoot the volume of missiles they once did, not even close. And the chairman will lay out some of those percentages. So our air defenses, and that of our allies have plenty of runway. We can sustain this fight easily, for as long as we need. And as I said yesterday, we set the terms.
Strategy Revealed: We Fight to Win
Now, you may not see much of it, because the IRCG shut off the internet to the entirety of the country. They blind their people on purpose, just like they kill their own on purpose. Much was made of the volume of missiles Iran was able to shoot in the first few days. And sadly, as we projected, a few got through and killed six of our best, who will hopefully arrive home soon. We will avenge them. No doubt.
But I liken Iran’s predicament to a football team who’s scripted the first 20 plays of a game. The team knew what plays to run because their first few drives were scripted. But now that the game has started, and the blitz is on, they don’t know what plays to call, let alone how to get in huddle and call those plays. Iran’s senior leaders are dead. The so-called governing council that might have selected a successor: dead, missing, or cowering in bunkers too terrified to even occupy the same room. Senior generals, mid-level officers, enlisted ranks, they can’t talk or communicate, let alone mount a coordinated or sustained offensive. That’s not great for morale. The Iranian Air Force is no more. Built for 1996, destroyed in 2026. The Iranian Navy now rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf, combat ineffective, decimated, destroyed, defeated, pick your adjective. In fact, last night we sunk their prize ship: The Soleimani. Looks like POTUS got him twice. Their navy, not a factor, pick your adjective, it is no more. In fact, yesterday, in the Indian Ocean (and we’ll play it on screen there), an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo, quiet death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win.
WATCH:
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) March 4, 2026
Hegseth also announced the killing of the leader who plotted to assassinate President Donald Trump.
Also, yesterday, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed. Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh.
This Is Not Mission Accomplished, but a Reality Check
Now, this is not a “Mission Accomplished” situation. This is simply a reality check.
The combination of U.S. and Israeli intelligence and combat power will control Iran and will control it soon.
Sure, Iran will still be able to shoot some missiles, and still be able to launch one-way attack drones at civilian targets. And their proxies will attempt to attack our embassies, bases, and soft targets. They are terrorists, after all, and they need to target civilians: because they cannot fight toe-to-toe. We will find them, and we will kill them. This is what the fake news misses. We’ve taken control of Iran’s airspace and waterways without boots on the ground. We control their fate. But when a few drones get through, or tragic things happen, it’s front page news. I get it, the press only wants to make the president look bad, but try for once to report the reality. The terms of this war will be set by us at every step.
As I said Monday, the mission is laser-focused: Obliterate Iran’s missiles and drones, and facilities that produce them, annihilate its Navy and critical security infrastructure, and sever their pathway to nuclear weapons. Iran will never possess a nuclear bomb not on our watch, not ever.
WATCH:
.@SECWAR “As I said Monday, the mission is laser-focused: obliterate Iran’s missiles and drones and facilities that produce them, annihilate its navy and critical security infrastructure, and permanently sever their pathway to nuclear weapons.
Iran will never possess a nuclear… pic.twitter.com/vFnq7vspsM
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 4, 2026
Mission Clarity
This is why the President’s moral clarity on Iran is so vital. Unlike the past where vague red lines and endless negotiations let Iran fund terror and inch ever-so-slightly toward a bomb, this president sees the threat plainly and acts decisively. No more half-measures, especially when Iran is at its weakest. No more letting Tehran play for time while our people pay the price. His leadership ensures that we finish what we start, and that we protect our warfighters by crushing the enemy before they can strike again.
Our offensive operations refined through months of relenteless preparation, are unstoppable. and our defensive efforts are unprecedented. We have from the start put the protection of our troops ahead of everything else. Before we very publicly built up offensive combat power, we quietly ensured that our defensive posture and power was in place. And as we built up offensive combat power, we moved the vast majority of American troops, over 90 percent of Americans that were on our bases, what we say, “off the X” out of the range of Iranian fire.
Our defensive shield is equally formidable. The most sophisticated air and missile defense network ever fielded. Thousands of Iranian missiles and drones have been intercepted and vaporized. Tens of thousands of American and allied lives protected.
We have pushed every counter-UAS system possible forward, sparing no expense or capability. Like I said, this does not mean we can stop everything. But we ensured that the maximum possible defense, and maximum possible force protection was set up before we went on offense.
Protection for America’s Interest and Praise for our Partner Israel
In closing, as President Trump told German Chancellor Merz yesterday, Iran negotiated in bad faith — stalling, scheming, and preparing to strike. And we acted decisively to defend our people, our interests, and our allies.
President Trump took bold action — putting America First — the kind of bold action that the American people elected him to execute.
To our steadfast partner Israel, your mission is being executed with unmatched skill and iron determination. Fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with such a capable ally is a true force-multiplier and a breath of fresh air. We salute your courage and your contribution. Four days in, we have only just begun to fight.
America fights to win. And in Operation Epic Fury, we are.
May God’s providence cover and protect our troops always.
WATCH:
.@SECWAR “As President Trump told German Chancellor Merz yesterday, Iran negotiated in bad faith — stalling, scheming, and preparing to strike first. And we acted decisively to defend our people, our interests, and our allies.
President Trump took the bold action — putting… pic.twitter.com/uaVjld6gHN
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 4, 2026
Chairman Caine’s update was shorter and outlined more logistics moving forward. Chairman Caine began by honoring the six soldiers who lost their lives, then opened the floor for press questions.
WATCH:
Chairman Caine provided an update on Operation Epic Fury. pic.twitter.com/dAkacRZC6R
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 4, 2026
Editor’s Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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