Top US Official Discusses Iran Air Strikes: No Timeline, Troop Deployment Still Possible
Defense Secretary Hegseth calls recent strikes 'most lethal and precise' in history, but refuses to rule out future troop deployment as conflict continues.
In his first public remarks since the start of the US-led air campaign against Iran, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the military strikes as the "most lethal and precise air power campaign in history". However, he notably refused to establish a clear timeline for how long the operation will continue, nor did he rule out the possibility of sending US ground troops into the conflict.
Hegseth praised the joint US-Israeli air strikes, which began on Saturday, stating that they had inflicted significant damage on Iranian military targets. But he also acknowledged that four US service members had been killed by a ballistic missile that managed to penetrate allied air defenses.
When asked about the administration's goals for the conflict, Hegseth said the US was not seeking a "democratic transition" in Iran, a departure from previous rhetoric about regime change. Instead, he indicated the current strikes were aimed at degrading Iran's military capabilities and deterring further aggression.
Notably, Hegseth refused to speculate on whether US ground troops would be deployed to Iran, stating only that there were no "boots on the ground" at the moment. This suggests the possibility of future troop involvement remains on the table, despite the administration's initial focus on air power.
The defense secretary's remarks come as the conflict in Iran enters its second week, with both sides suffering casualties. Hezseth's refusal to establish a timeline or rule out further escalation suggests the US is prepared for a potentially protracted military engagement, even as it seeks to avoid the kind of "quagmire" that has plagued previous Middle East interventions.
Analysts will be closely watching to see whether the administration's strategic approach evolves in the coming days and weeks, as the full consequences of the air campaign become clearer. For now, the message from the Pentagon is one of confidence in the military's capabilities, but also caution about the road ahead.
Source: The Guardian
