New: Operation Epic Fury Update From Pete Hegseth - 'This Is Not Iraq'

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By Sister Toldjah

On Monday morning, Dept. of War Sec. Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, held a Pentagon presser to share updates on Operation Epic Fury.

Early Saturday morning, President Trump confirmed the operation, stating that "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world."

During the Monday presser, Hegseth talked about the members of the U.S. military who were killed, with the number now standing at four:

CENTCOM also posted this update:

TAMPA, Fla. – As of 7:30 am ET, March 2, four U.S. service members have been killed in action. The fourth service member, who was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries.  

Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing. 

The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification.

There was also what CENTCOM said was a "friendly fire" incident, which RedState covered earlier. "All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition," they wrote, while also sharing that the friendly fire involved "U.S. Air Force fighter jets [that] were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses."

Hegseth also talked at the presser about the "why" of the mission:

"Iran's stubborn and self-evident nuclear pursuits, their targeting of global shipping lanes and their swelling arsenal of ballistic missiles and killer drones are no longer tolerable risks... Our bases, our people, our allies, all in their crosshairs. Iran had a conventional gun to our head as they tried to lie their way to a nuclear bomb.  It almost worked under Obama and his terrible deal, but not under this president. Turns out, the regime that chanted death to America and death to Israel was gifted death from America and death from Israel."

This was not a "regime change war," Hegseth said, "but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it today."
"The Iranian leadership has built nothing except proxies, missiles, and drones, and deeply buried nuclear factories and facilities. Peaceful nuclear ambitions do NOT need to be buried underneath mountains," Hegseth stated.

Hegseth also made sure to emphasize that this was not going to be another Iraq:

“We hope the Iranian people take advantage of this incredible opportunity. President Trump has been clear: NOW IS YOUR TIME. To Iranian security forces, choose wisely — President Trump has also been clear about your fate in either direction. To the media outlets and the political Left screaming 'endless war'—stop.  This is not Iraq.  This is not endless.  I was there for both.  Our generation knows better, and so does this President.  He called the last 20 years of nation-building wars 'dumb' — and he was right.  This is the opposite.  This operation is a clear, devastating, decisive mission: Destroy the missile threat, destroy the Navy, no Nukes.”

Hegseth also addressed our fighting forces who are carrying out the mission:

“This is your moment. This is the generational turning point America has waited for since 1979 — and since the rudderless wars of hubris my generation endured. Don’t listen to the noise; just stay focused. Our commander-in-chief is steady at the wheel. 

We face a determined enemy, but you are better. But we must prove it. History doesn’t care if you’re tired, if you’re scared, if the fight feels big.

It demands warriors who rise anyway.

Peace Through Strength. The Warrior Ethos. Lethality. Unity of Purpose. These aren’t slogans — they are the beating heart of what it means to wear this uniform. You think clearly under fire. You act decisively in chaos. You uphold the Constitution and you uphold your country without hesitation.

We are not defenders anymore — we are warriors, trained to kill the enemy and break their will. History is watching. Be the force you swore to be: focused, disciplined, lethal, and unbreakable.

We will finish this on America First conditions of President Trump’s choosing — nobody else’s. As it should be.

And know this above all: President Trump and I have your back — always. 

Through fire, through criticism, through criticism, through fake news, through everything. We unleashed you because you are the best, most powerful, most lethal fighting force the world has ever seen.

“May Almighty God watch over you, and may His providential arms of protection extend over you.

GODSPEED WARRIORS—and keep going.”

The full presser can be watched below:

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