Hegseth says there will be no letup in U.S. attacks on Iran as Pentagon warns of “death and destruction”

2026-03-04 - 13:56

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the American military campaign against Iran is accelerating, with additional warplanes deploying to the region. He warned Iranian leaders that U.S. forces would deliver “death and destruction all day long” as operations intensify. Speaking on the fifth day of the joint U.S.-Israeli assault, Hegseth said the United States expects to achieve full control of Iranian airspace within days. He dismissed concerns about munitions shortages, stating that American aircraft would continue striking targets using a wide arsenal of precision-guided and unguided bombs. His remarks came shortly after Turkey’s Defense Ministry announced that NATO air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran toward Turkish airspace — a potentially dangerous escalation involving a NATO member that shares a long border with Iran. The conflict has already claimed hundreds of lives in Iran. Iran’s Red Crescent Society reported that at least 787 people have been killed since the strikes began, while broader regional fatalities now exceed 870. Iranian retaliatory attacks have also killed civilians and military personnel in Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Israel. Iranian leaders, meanwhile, have vowed defiance. Following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior officials are deliberating his successor. According to Iranian officials familiar with discussions, his son Mojtaba Khamenei is emerging as a leading candidate — a move that could signal ideological continuity, the New York Times Reports. On the battlefield, U.S. officials said the tempo of strikes is increasing. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine reported that Iranian ballistic missile launches have dropped 86 percent since the first day of fighting, while drone attacks are down 73 percent. Hegseth also confirmed that a U.S. submarine launched a torpedo to sink an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean — the first such American submarine torpedo strike against an enemy vessel since World War II. In Lebanon, Israel escalated operations against Hezbollah, ordering evacuations south of the Litani River. Across the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait reported additional Iranian attacks on Wednesday. Global markets remain volatile as oil prices climb amid fears of disruptions in the Persian Gulf. Investors worry that prolonged conflict could trigger sustained energy shocks and economic instability. Meanwhile, Western governments are scrambling to evacuate citizens from the region. The U.S. State Department said it is facilitating charter flights from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Despite the mounting casualties — including six American service members — Hegseth said there would be no pause in the campaign.