From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 19, 2026
No ‘definitive time frame’ for ending Iran war — Pentagon
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleUS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier today there is no “time frame” for ending the US-Israeli war against Iran, which was launched three weeks ago.
“We wouldn’t want to set a definitive time frame,” Hegseth told a news conference, adding that “we’re very much on track” and that President Donald Trump will be the one to decide when to stop.
“It will be at the president’s choosing, ultimately, where we say, ‘Hey, we’ve achieved what we need to.'”
Hegseth also addressed a report that the Pentagon has requested more than $200 billion in additional funding from Congress to pay for the conflict.
“As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move. Obviously it takes money to kill bad guys,” Hegseth said.
“We’re going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future,” he said.
Top US military officer General Dan Caine, who spoke alongside Hegseth, provided details on weapons being used against Iran and its allied forces in the region.
Caine said A-10 Warthogs — a type of aircraft designed for providing close air support — are “hunting and killing fast-attack watercraft” in the key Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran effectively closed to maritime traffic following the start of the war.
He also said AH-64 Apaches are being used in Iraq to target Iran-aligned militia groups there, and that some US allies have begun using the attack helicopters to counter one-way drones launched by Tehran’s forces.
The Times of Israel Community.