"They Had Submarines; Now They Don't": Pete Hegseth Declares Total Neutralization of Iranian Navy
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reveals the U.S. has destroyed Iran's submarine fleet and 120 ships. With missile threats down 90%, Hegseth vows to "hunt without mercy" as Operation Epic Fury intensifies.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a searing assessment of the military campaign against Iran on Thursday, claiming that American forces are "winning decisively" and have systematically dismantled Tehran's naval and industrial capabilities.
In his opening remarks, Hegseth drew a direct parallel between the Iranian regime and Hamas. "Iran is a vast country, and just like Hamas and their tunnels, they poured every bit of aid and economic development into rockets and buried facilities," Hegseth stated. He accused the regime of diverting decades of state resources away from the Iranian people and into missiles, drones, and proxy networks.
Hegseth revealed that the U.S. has struck over 7,000 targets across Iran to date. He emphasized that the strategy is not gradual, but of "decisive force applied with precision."
Key achievements reported by the Secretary include:
* Industrial Destruction: Hundreds of defense industry bases and production lines for ballistic missiles and drones have been "decisively destroyed."
* Air Defense: Hegseth stated that Iran’s air defense systems have been "flattened."
* Eliminating Leadership: He joked grimly that the "last job anyone in the world wants right now" is to be a senior leader in the IRGC or Basij, calling them "temporary jobs."
According to the Pentagon's data, the effectiveness of the strikes is reflected in a dramatic decrease in Iranian offensive capabilities. Hegseth noted that ballistic missile attacks and one-way "kamikaze" drone strikes against U.S. forces have dropped by 90% since the start of the conflict. "They would fire a lot more if they could," Hegseth said, "but they can't."
The most striking portion of the update focused on the maritime theater. Hegseth announced that the Iranian surface fleet is "no longer a factor" after the U.S. hit or sank over 120 naval vessels.
Most notably, he addressed Tehran's underwater capabilities: "Their submarines (they once had 11) are gone."
Secretary Hegseth concluded by signaling that the pressure would not let up, promising that today's strike package would be the "largest yet," matching the intensity of the previous day's operations.