'War is Hell': Hegseth defends Iran offensive as US lawmakers clash over 'Operation Epic Fury'

In a Pentagon briefing on Monday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the ongoing Operation Epic Fury against Iran, asserting that the United States would pursue those who threaten Americans "without apology and without hesitation." "If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you," Hegseth said. He, however, failed to provide any details of the strategic objectives achieved in the operation. 

Standing alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Hegseth called the massive military campaign—which includes strikes on Iranian missile sites, naval forces, and command infrastructure—a decisive departure from the "endless wars" of the past two decades. "This is not Iraq. This is not endless. I was there for both. Our generation knows better and so does this President. He called the last 20 years of nation-building wars dumb, and he's right. This is the opposite," he said. 

Hegseth, whose appointment marked a shift toward a more aggressive military posture under the Trump administration, including the rechristening of the Department of Defense as the Department of War, framed the conflict as the culmination of 47 years of Iranian aggression. "We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it," he said, "Their war on Americans has become our retribution against their ayatollah and his death cult."

Gen. Dan Caine provided operational details, noting that the U.S. has established "local air superiority" and struck more than 1,000 targets in the first 24 hours. This was a "massive, overwhelming attack across all domains of warfare," Caine said, adding that through coordinated space and cyber operations, officials were able to disrupt communications and sensor networks effectively.

The Department of War's press briefing, however, has divided U.S. lawmakers, with reactions split sharply along party lines. While a section of Republican lawmakers praised the administration's resolve and described the "preemptive strikes" as necessary to safeguard American interests, Democrats have sounded alarm bells over Hegseth's speech, claiming that the Trump administration has failed to spell out the U.S.A's goals clearly.

In a post on X, highlighting the "takeaways from Hegseth's press conference this morning," Senator Mark Kelly pointed out that no clear timeline for when the operation ends was provided and claimed there was no strategic goal behind Operation Epic Fury. He said this isn't about "regime change" despite the President saying otherwise. "Going into a conflict of this scale with no strategy and a wishy-washy end state often leads to a less than optimal outcome, starting with the potential for continued escalation and a long, bloody conflict. Americans want leaders who focus on improving their lives, not starting more wars," he wrote. 

The briefing confirmed that four American service members have died since the operation began on February 28. "As the President warned, an effort of this scope will include casualties. War is hell and always will be. A grateful nation honors the four Americans we have lost thus far and those injured, the absolute best of America," Hegseth said.