WASHINGTON D.C. – Top US military officials stated Friday that a two-week-long air campaign has “decimated” Iran’s air defenses and munitions manufacturing capabilities, but confirmed the country's ruling regime remains in power The assessment came during a Pentagon press briefing with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, marking the two-week point of the US-Israeli military operation against Iran
Officials reported that thousands of targets across the country have been struck as part of the offensive While Secretary Hegseth projected confidence in the military’s success in degrading Iran's war-making capacity, the acknowledgement that its leadership is “largely intact” suggests the conflict has not yet achieved a strategic political outcome
The formal military briefing occurred just hours after President Donald Trump issued a threat to Iran’s leaders on social media. In an early morning post, President Trump described Iranian officials as “deranged scumbags” and warned them to “Watch what happens” He boasted of the US military’s “unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time” to continue the campaign The differing tones between the Pentagon and the White House highlight the ongoing intensity of the conflict as it enters its third week.
Mohsin Rana
