Friday marks Day 13 of Operation Epic Fury. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan "Razin" Caine gave an early morning press conference to update on the campaign.
SecWar Hegseth began with "the bottom line up front. For the world to hear and the press to actually admit."
"That the United States is decimating the radical Iranian regime military, in a way the world has never seen before. Never before has a modern, capable military, which Iran used to have, been so quickly destroyed and rendered ineffective. Devastated. We said it would not be a fair fight, and it has not been."
WATCH:
.@SECWAR “We'll start, as we often do here at the Department of War, with the Bottom Line Up Front—for the world to hear, and for the press to have to actually admit: The United States is DECIMATING the radical Iranian regime’s military in a way that the world has NEVER SEEN… pic.twitter.com/2nq19sQEEj
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 13, 2026
Hegseth continued:
"As I said in our first press conference on Day 2 — that was just 10 short days ago: the combination of the two most power air forces is unprecedented and unbeatable. Between our Air Force and that of the Israelis, over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck. That's well over 1,000 a day. No other combination of countries in the world can do that.
"So today, as we speak, we fly over the top. Of Iran and Tehran. Fighters and bombers every day, picking targets as they choose. As our intelligence gets better and better and more refined. Looking up, the IRCG and Iranian regime sees only two things on side of aircraft: the Stars and Stripes and the Star of David. The evil regime's worst nightmare.
WATCH:
.@SECWAR “As I stated during our first press conference on Day 2—10 short days ago—the combination of the world's two most powerful Air Forces is UNPRECEDENTED AND UNBEATABLE!
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 13, 2026
Between our Air Force and that of the Israelis', OVER 15,000 enemy targets have been struck. That’s… pic.twitter.com/Rmxx5ierta
Hegseth further reported that Iran has no air or maritime defenses, no Air Force or Navy, and that the regime's missile and drone defenses were being shot from the sky. The missile defenses are down 90 percent, and one-way attack drones are down by 95 percent. Hegseth also said that Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz are "sheer desperation. Something we're dealing with, we have been dealing with it, and don't need to worry about it. We're on plan to defeat, destroy, disable all of their meaningful military capabilities, at a pace the world has never seen before."
"Even more importantly, they also don't have the ability to build more. That's the most important component I'd like to emphasize today. Soon and very soon, all of Iran's defense companies will be destroyed. For example, as of two days ago, Iran's entire ballistic missile production capacity — every company that builds every component of those missiles — have been functionally defeated. Buildings, factories, and lines all across Iran: destroyed. So, we're shooting down and destroying what missiles they still have in stock. But more importantly, ensuring that they have no ability to make more. Their production lines, their military plants, their defense innovation centers: defeated.
Hegseth then turned to Iran's leadership, saying they are "in no better shape. They've gone underground. That's what rats do."
WATCH:
.@SECWAR “Iran's leadership is in no better shape; DESPERATE AND HIDING —they've gone underground, cowering. That’s what rats do.
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 13, 2026
We know the new so-called, not-so-Supreme Leader is wounded and likely disfigured.
He put out a statement yesterday—a weak one, actually—but there… pic.twitter.com/JZ8hh3LnH5
.@SECWAR “Iran's leadership is in no better shape; DESPERATE AND HIDING —they've gone underground, cowering. That’s what rats do.
We know the new so-called, not-so-Supreme Leader is wounded and likely disfigured.
He put out a statement yesterday—a weak one, actually—but there was no voice and no video. It was a written statement.
Hegseth further emphasized that Iran's military capabilities are crumbling.
With each passing hour — we know, and we know that they know — that the military capabilities of their evil regime are crumbling. They can barely communicate, let alone coordinate. They are confused. We know it.
Hegseth affirmed that, "We will keep pressing. Keep pushing. Keep advancing. No quarter. And no mercy for our enemies."
WATCH:
.@SECWAR “With each passing hour—we know, and we know that they know—that the military capabilities of their Evil Regime are crumbling.
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 13, 2026
They can barely communicate, let alone coordinate. They are confused; we know it.
Our response: we will keep pressing. Keep pushing. Keep… pic.twitter.com/lsUdhSxhmn
After giving legacy media a brief shellacking over their moribund and confused headlines, SecWar Hegseth reiterated and realigned for them the chain of command in this operation and who is taking the lead:
"As I said from the start, President Trump holds the cards. He'll determine the pace, the timing, the tempo of this conflict. His hand firmly on the wheel, as well as on the throttle setting. America First. Peace Through Strength... in Action.
"From Day 1, as our nation expects and the president demands, our warriors have fought with lethality, precision, and rapid innovation. In fact, today will be, yet again, the highest volume of strikes that America has put over the skies of Iran and Tehran. The number of sorties, the number of bomber pulses. The highest yet, ramping up and only up. And quantity has a quality of its own as we continue to ramp up. Every tool of AI of Cyber, of Space, EW, counter-UAS, you name it, we're employing it. Blinding, confusing, and deceiving our enemy."
WATCH:
.@SECWAR “As I said from the start, President Trump holds the cards. He will determine the pace, tempo, and timing of this conflict.
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 13, 2026
His hand is FIRMLY on the wheel as well on the throttle setting. America First, Peace through Strength, in action.” pic.twitter.com/2n68hiq1oW
Hegseth took the time to acknowledge and ask for prayers for the rescue and recovery of the soldiers involved in the KC-135 Tanker incident. "War is hell. War is chaos. And as we saw yesterday in the tragic crash of our F-135 Tanker, [pause] bad things happen."
Hegseth directly acknowledged and encouraged prayers to go forward for all the fighting men and women deployed on this mission.
WATCH:
.@SECWAR took a moment to honor the four American heroes aboard the U.S. KC-135. pic.twitter.com/H6keEwZylH
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 13, 2026
Hegseth continued to assert America's dominance in this operation, "because we know who the good guys are here, and the American people do too. And that makes my job simple. I serve God, the troops, the country, the Constitution, and the President of the United States, and answer only to those. All in service to victory on the battlefield [...] we will stop at nothing to win."
WATCH:
.@SECWAR “Because we know who the good guys are here—and the American people do too, and that makes my job simple.
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 13, 2026
I serve God, the troops, the country, and the President of the United States, and answer only to those.
All in service of victory on the battlefield—and the… pic.twitter.com/hlmf1tN2qA
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine began his remarks with an acknowledgement of the KC-135 Tanker incident. Caine said they were "still treating this as an active rescue and recovery operation." Caine asked everyone to keep these brave airmen and their families in prayer.
Caine went over operations protocols and reinforced some of the victories and gains which SecWar Hegseth also outlined. Caine spent the bulk of his remarks honoring and praising the fighting men and women under his command. Honoring the fact that they carry the weight and responsibility of their duties "with a level of maturity, grit, and tenacity. Their parents and families would and should be very proud. We remain deeply grateful for their service."
WATCH:
General Dan Caine provided an update on Operation Epic Fury. pic.twitter.com/7An7EKh0vX
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 13, 2026
After Secretary Hegseth and Caine completed their remarks, they opened the floor to questions from the press.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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