❗️Washington signals long war on Iran as Hegseth says campaign is 'only the beginning'

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has warned that Washington’s military campaign against Iran is far from over, declaring that the ongoing US-Israeli strikes by the US and Israel mark only the opening phase of a wider confrontation. Speaking in an interview aired Sunday on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Hegseth insisted the operation is still in its early stages.

The Pentagon says more than 50,000 US troops are involved in what it calls Operation Epic Fury, with roughly 3,000 areas already struck inside Iran as of Friday. Hegseth claimed the campaign is proceeding according to plan and argued that the combined air power of the US and Israel gives the two allies overwhelming military superiority.

Reiterating US President Donald Trump’s demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender, Hegseth said the objective is to break Tehran’s ability to continue the fight. He also acknowledged that the war is expected to exact a growing toll, warning that casualties will continue as the US prepares for a prolonged campaign across the region.