The United States’ military operations against Iran are set to escalate significantly, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announcing that Tuesday will witness the most intense day of strikes to date. This declaration comes more than ten days into the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with the Islamic Republic.
During a press conference at the Pentagon, Hegseth reported that the U.S. military would deploy an unprecedented number of fighters and bombers for the operation. Highlighting the unpredictable nature of the conflict, he emphasized that President Donald Trump retains ultimate control over the duration and intensity of the military engagement. “He’s the one deciding,” Hegseth remarked when addressing the timeline of the war, leaving the complexities of its progression still uncertain.
Trump has commented that the hostilities could conclude “very soon,” although details regarding a timeline remain ambiguous. The U.S. military objectives prominently include dismantling Iran’s navy, with General Dan Caine, the top U.S. military officer, revealing that operations involve artillery, aerial bombardments, and sea-launched missile tactics targeting Iranian naval assets.
In retaliation, Iran has vowed to obstruct all oil exports via the vital Gulf region for the duration of the conflict. Trump responded with stark warnings of “death, fire, and fury” should Tehran disrupt crude oil shipments. Caine confirmed ongoing U.S. operations aimed at locating and neutralizing Iranian mine-laying vessels—an effort designed to safeguard maritime traffic in the area.
Hegseth accused Iran of employing deceptive tactics, such as positioning rocket launchers in civilian areas, including near schools and hospitals, in an attempt to complicate U.S. military action. He did not address a controversial strike that reportedly hit an elementary school in Minab, resulting in numerous civilian casualties, but asserted that the U.S. strives to avoid civilian casualties more than any other nation.
The U.S. President has stated that an investigation regarding the Minab incident is underway and suggested the possibility that Iran may have fired a missile, specifically a Tomahawk, at the school. However, experts noted that Iran does not possess Tomahawk missiles, a weapon primarily utilized by U.S. forces.
In response to the U.S. actions, Iran has intensified its missile and drone assaults on countries in the region housing U.S. military personnel. Despite this, Hegseth reported that the frequency of Iran’s missile launches appears to be decreasing, with the last 24 hours witnessing the lowest level of missile activity from Tehran during the conflict thus far.
