Overview
- In a Pentagon briefing, Pete Hegseth called the operation “the most lethal and precise airpower campaign in history” using B‑2s, fighters, drones, missiles and “classified effects.”
- He listed objectives to destroy Iranian offensive missiles and production, cripple naval and security infrastructure, and prevent any future Iranian nuclear weapon.
- He said the war would not be “endless” but refused to provide a timeline or discuss potential ground deployments, dismissing such questions as aiding the enemy.
- His “no stupid rules of engagement” line drew sharp warnings from journalists and analysts who said it signaled disregard for international humanitarian law and risked war-crimes exposure.
- Reporting noted rising casualties, including the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while John Bolton said Hegseth “needs an attitude adjustment” and should “check with his boss” on the objective.