Hegseth frames Iran war as winning effort, rails at press during Pentagon briefing

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth framed the ongoing Iran war as a decisive U.S. victory, asserting Iran’s leadership is wounded and the regime is being decimated, while attacking media coverage as “fake news.” Joined by Gen. Dan Caine, he offered few endgame details and warned against mission creep. The conflict has already claimed U.S. and allied lives—11 U.S. service members and one French service member—along with multiple aircraft losses and more than 140 wounded, as Iranian strikes on energy infrastructure appear to be waning according to the briefing.