Hegseth warns Iran campaign 'only just beginning,' predicts more casualties

2026-03-09 - 09:02

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a stark message Sunday that American military operations against Iran are far from over, warning that the campaign is "only just beginning" as US and Israeli forces continue strikes into their second week. In an interview aired on CBS News' 60 Minutes, Hegseth said Iran's ability to project power in the region is steadily weakening and will be "increasingly diminished." Massive force deployed According to the Pentagon, more than 50,000 US troops are involved in Operation Epic Fury, with the US military having already struck approximately 3,000 targets inside Iran as of Friday. Hegseth rejected suggestions that the campaign is nearing completion, stating: "We're very much on track, on plan." He emphasized that the US and Israel possess "overwhelming" military capabilities compared with Iran: "When you combine our air force with the air force of the Israeli Defense Forces, they're the two most powerful air forces in the world." Unconditional surrender demanded Hegseth reiterated President Donald Trump's demand for Iran's "unconditional surrender," explaining that the goal is to render Iranian forces incapable of continuing the fight. "It means we're fighting to win. It means we set the terms. We'll know when they're not capable of fighting," he said. The remarks come as regional tensions escalate amid US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, including Iranian strikes on Gulf states and ongoing Hezbollah engagements with Israel. Casualties expected The defense secretary also warned that casualties are expected as the conflict continues. "The president's been right to say there will be casualties... There will be more casualties," Hegseth said, adding that such losses "stiffen our spine and our resolve to say this is a fight we will finish." His comments follow reports of US military fatalities and significant asset losses in the opening days of the operation, including a $1.1 billion radar system in Qatar and multiple aircraft. Campaign outlook With the US-Israeli offensive now entering its second week and Iranian retaliatory strikes continuing across the Gulf, Hegseth's declaration that the campaign is "only just beginning" suggests that the region faces prolonged instability and escalating violence in the days and weeks ahead.