World · 2 March 2026
Pentagon: Iran war 'won't be endless,' but no timeline
U.S. Department of Defense via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered the Pentagon's first public briefing since the US-Israeli military operation against Iran launched on Saturday, declaring the US "didn't start this war but under President Trump, we're finishing it." Speaking alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Hegseth said the US goal was to "destroy the missile threats, destroy the navy, no nukes." He insisted the conflict would not be "endless" but refused to set a timeline or rule out ground troops. Four American service members have been killed so far.
Reported by NPR / Washington Post · How we write briefs