Hegseth urges US troops to hold forward as Operation Epic Fury devastates Iran
Hegseth tells nation: 'We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it'
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth holds a briefing amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
War Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the nation amid Operation Epic Fury on Monday, saying the U.S. didn't start the conflict with Iran, "but under President Trump, we are finishing it."
Hegseth said Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's regime was building fleets of ballistic missiles and drones in an attempt to "create a conventional shield for their nuclear blackmail ambitions."
"To Iranian security forces: Choose wisely. President Trump has also been clear about your fate in either direction," Hegseth said.
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The War Secretary went on to dismiss accusations that the attack on Iran is another "endless war" that could bog down the U.S.
"This operation is a clear, devastating, decisive mission. Destroy the missile threat. Destroy the navy. No nukes," Hegseth said. "We fight to win, and we don't waste time or lives."
