WASHINGTON – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday asserted that U.S. military superiority is rapidly gaining control of Iranian airspace, but acknowledged that some Iranian airstrikes may still hit targets.
Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon, days after the United States and Israel attacked Iran in a war that escalated across the region, saying the United States “will spare no expense or capability” in strengthening its air defense systems to protect American forces and allies in the Middle East.
“This doesn’t mean we can stop everything, but we have made sure that all possible defenses and maximum force defenses are established before we launch an attack,” he said.
President Donald Trump and top defense officials have acknowledged that additional drone and missile attacks in the region could harm or harm troops, and have warned of further U.S. military casualties in a conflict that could last months.
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Hegseth also said the conflict could last eight weeks, but that the United States has the ammunition and equipment to defeat Iran in a war of attrition, suggesting it could last longer than the Trump administration has so far suggested.
He declined to set a specific period for the war, saying that it would depend on the war situation.
“You could say four weeks, but it could be six, eight, three weeks,” he said. “Ultimately, we’re the ones who set the pace and tempo. The enemy is off balance, so we’re going to keep them off balance.”
Hegseth said more troops continue to arrive in the region, including jet fighters and bombers, and the U.S. “will spend all the time necessary to ensure success.”
President Donald Trump said this week that his campaign is expected to last four to five weeks, but he is prepared to “last much longer than that.” — Agency
