This will be ‘most intense day’ of strikes on Iran, says US defense secretary, says this war is not like Iraq

Today will be “the most intense day of strikes” on Iran, says US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a Pentagon briefing. “The most fighters, the most bombers, the most intelligence, more defined and better than ever.”

At the same time, the last 24 hours has seen the lowest number of missiles Iran has fired over the course of one day in the ongoing campaign, he says.

The goals of the US campaign have not changed, and are being executed with “ruthless precision,” he adds.

He lists the aims: first, destroying the missile stockpiles, missile launchers, and their defense industrial base; and second, to destroy Iran’s navy.

And finally, to “permanently deny Iran nuclear weapons.”

“We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated,” he says, and that will be carried out “on our timeline.”

“This is not 2003,” he says, in a reference to the invasion that launched the Iraq War. “This is not endless nation-building.”