WASHINGTON: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Denny Kain have characterized the operation against Iran, dubbed ‘Epic Fury,’ as successful and historic, stating that as a result of the strike, Iran was compelled to beg for a ceasefire.
During a press briefing, Secretary Hegseth claimed that President Donald Trump made history and that the U.S. defeated Iran through a decisive military operation. He asserted that the U.S. utilized only 10% of its military power, wiping out Iran’s weapons factories, air force, and navy.
Hegseth further stated that hundreds of Iran’s missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets, and Iran’s ballistic missile program was severely damaged. He also claimed that Iran’s defense, military, and intelligence leadership had been decimated.
The Defense Secretary claimed that Iran’s new Supreme Leader is injured and that Iran, unable to withstand further American strikes, was forced into a ceasefire. He expressed optimism about a genuine opportunity for peace, noting that shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has resumed under the supervision of the U.S. Navy.
Hegseth warned that if Iran fires even a single missile, U.S. aircraft will be ready to respond. He described the ceasefire as a major success of President Trump’s “power-driven peace” policy.
He further criticized previous U.S. presidents for merely talking about action, saying Trump took concrete steps, and Iran has learned a hard lesson about challenging America.
Meanwhile, General Denny Kain praised the 38-day operation, calling it a remarkable success and congratulating U.S. leadership. He paid tribute to the 13 American soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the conflict, and noted that 520 personnel were injured in Iranian attacks.
Kain also revealed that during a recent pilot rescue mission involving 155 aircraft, a pilot was safely extracted from enemy territory—a mission he called an “military miracle.” He added that any American aircraft that became stuck in the sand was destroyed to prevent enemy access to technology.
The General concluded that Iran’s ballistic missile program has been destroyed by 90%, and it no longer poses a significant threat.
