US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, announced a new phase of military escalation against Tehran, confirming an unprecedented intensification of air and missile strikes. Hegseth clarified during a press conference held at the Pentagon that the operations scheduled for Tuesday would be the most violent and fierce since the first spark of the war ignited about ten days ago.
Regarding the timeline of military operations, the US Secretary stressed that President Donald Trump is the sole master of affairs and the ultimate decision-maker in determining the duration of this war. He indicated that the military establishment's mission is to implement the strategies set, while the assessment of the confrontation's end or continuation remains with the political administration in the White House.
For his part, General Dan Kane, the highest-ranking US military official, revealed details of the field operations that directly targeted Iranian naval capabilities. Kane explained that US forces used a combination of heavy artillery, fighter jets, strategic bombers, and guided naval missiles to neutralize Iranian threats in regional and international waters.
These developments come amid mutual threats, as Tehran has threatened to close waterways and prevent oil exports through the Gulf for the duration of the conflict. In response, President Trump renewed his warnings in a harsh tone, promising to confront any Iranian interference in global energy supplies with 'death, fire, and fury,' which raises international concern about disruptions to supply chains.
On the ground, General Kane confirmed that US units continue to pursue Iranian vessels designated for laying naval mines and destroying their logistical depots. These operations, according to military sources, aim to ensure freedom of navigation and prevent Tehran from using mines to obstruct the movement of commercial ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
In the context of mutual accusations, Hegseth sharply criticized the Iranian army, accusing it of moving missile launch platforms to populated areas and near schools and hospitals. The US Secretary considered that these tactics aim to impede the offensive capabilities of the United States by using civilians as human shields to protect military installations.
Regarding reports of civilian casualties, Hegseth did not provide a direct response to the targeting of an elementary school in the southern city of Minab, an attack that Tehran said killed 150 people. The Secretary merely stated that US forces take strict precautions that exceed any other country in the world to ensure the avoidance of targeting non-combatants during the execution of their missions.
In contrast, Tehran did not stand idly by, as sources reported that Iranian forces launched counter-attacks using waves of ballistic missiles and suicide drones. These attacks targeted several countries in the region hosting US military bases, indicating an expansion of the confrontation and its transformation into an open regional conflict.
Today will also be the fiercest in strikes inside Iran, and President Trump is the one who decides the timeline.
שתף את דעתך
Washington vows the harshest strikes against Iran since the war began and intensifies its military operations