US has no end date for Iran war, strikes ‘very much on track’: Hegseth
Pentagon requests $200B extra funding as strikes hit 7,000 targets, with no timeline for conclusion.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on Thursday that the United States has set no 'time frame' for concluding its joint military campaign with Israel against Iran, which began with strikes on February 28. Hegseth emphasized the operation is 'very much on track' and that the decision to end hostilities rests solely with President Donald Trump, who will determine when strategic objectives have been met. This open-ended commitment comes as the Pentagon seeks an extraordinary $200 billion in supplemental funding to sustain the war effort.
Detailing the scale of the three-week conflict, Hegseth reported that US forces have conducted strikes against approximately 7,000 targets inside Iran. The campaign has also targeted Iran's naval capabilities, destroying more than 40 minelaying vessels and 11 submarines. Hegseth asserted that the war's objectives, defined by President Trump, remain unchanged since the initial attacks, framing the conflict as a necessary 'America-first' action with no predetermined endpoint.
- Defense Secretary Hegseth states there is no set timeline for ending the US-Israel war against Iran, leaving the decision to President Trump.
- The Pentagon is requesting an additional $200 billion in funding to support the ongoing military campaign.
- US strikes have hit roughly 7,000 targets within Iran, including over 40 naval vessels and 11 submarines.
Why It Matters
Signals a major, potentially protracted military commitment with significant budgetary and geopolitical implications for US foreign policy.