Pentagon warns of 'most intense' day of US strikes on Iran as campaign widens

Pentagon and Joint Chiefs officials cautioned that Tuesday could be the “most intense” day of U.S. strikes on Iran, with Hegseth accusing Tehran of firing missiles from schools and hospitals while U.S. Central Command says it has hit more than 5,000 targets, destroyed over 50 Iranian vessels, and degraded drone capabilities. The campaign has also seen a deadly strike on a girls’ school, raising questions about civilian casualties and target identification. Iran’s leadership and regional proxies are mentioned, as Washington stresses it will avoid a long, open-ended war, even as Trump hints at talks but previously rejected terms.