U.S. plans ‘largest wave of strikes’ on Iran as war escalates, Hegseth says

2026-03-13 - 15:16

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the United States will carry out its largest wave of strikes against Iran since the war began, signaling a further escalation in the conflict. His remarks came a day after Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed revenge for recent attacks, including the bombing of a girls’ school that reportedly killed many civilians. Speaking to reporters, Hegseth said the U.S. and Israel have struck around 15,000 targets in Iran since the war began on February 28, according to Forbes.. He claimed the campaign has significantly weakened Iran’s capabilities, saying Iranian missile attacks have dropped by about 90% and the use of one-way attack drones has fallen by 95%. Addressing concerns about the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical route for global oil shipments—Hegseth played down its impact, saying the situation is being managed. He added that the strait remains technically open but ships are being threatened by Iranian attacks on commercial vessels. Hegseth also criticized media coverage of the conflict, arguing that reports describing the war as rapidly widening are misleading. Instead, he claimed Iran is becoming increasingly desperate as U.S. and Israeli forces continue targeting its military infrastructure.