US Dismisses Concerns of Protracted Conflict with Iran, Predicts More Casualties
WASHINGTON – The United States on Monday sought to reassure allies and quell fears of a drawn-out conflict with Iran, even as officials acknowledged the likelihood of further American casualties in the coming weeks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted the current military actions are fundamentally different from the years-long engagements seen in Iraq, stating, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless.”
Hegseth, alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, delivered the Trump administration’s first public briefing since Saturday’s strikes against Iranian targets. President Donald Trump has so far limited his public comments to video statements and brief remarks at a White House event, opting not to take questions from the press.
The administration maintains the operation had a “decisive mission” to eliminate threats posed by Iranian ballistic missiles, dismantle its navy, and prevent the development of nuclear weapons. Hegseth stated that previous strikes had already “obliterated their nuclear program to rubble,” but cited ongoing concerns about Iran’s conventional weaponry.
“Iran was building powerful missiles and drones to create a conventional shield for their nuclear blackmail ambitions,” Hegseth explained. “Our bases, our people, our allies, all in their crosshairs.”
Despite the assurances, the conflict is already escalating. Iran and its allied groups have launched missile attacks against Israel, Arab states, and U.S. military targets throughout the Middle East. Four American troops have been killed, and Hegseth, Caine, and Trump have all predicted more will die. Details surrounding the deaths of the four service members were not disclosed.
A particularly alarming incident occurred when Kuwait mistakenly shot down three American F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets during combat operations, mistaking them for Iranian aircraft. All six pilots ejected safely and are in stable condition.
While Hegseth declined to comment on the possibility of deploying “boots on the ground” in Iran, Trump indicated in a statement to the New York Post that he wasn’t ruling it out if “they were necessary.” The White House initially estimated the mission could take four to five weeks, but Hegseth suggested that timeline is flexible, stating it “could move up. It could move back.”
The administration has justified the strikes by alleging that Iran was “stalling” during negotiations and had “waged a savage, one-sided war against America” for 47 years. However, U.S. intelligence reportedly did not indicate Iran was preparing a preemptive strike against the U.S., according to a briefing given to congressional staffers Sunday.
The operation involved B-2 stealth bombers, with bombs dropped on underground facilities, and the use of cyber technologies to disrupt Iranian communications and sensor networks, according to Caine. Over 1,000 targets have been struck, including missile sites and naval assets.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to brief congressional leadership, followed by a full briefing for Congress on Tuesday, with participation from Hegseth, Caine, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
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