U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed that American forces carried out what he described as “the most lethal, most complex, and most-precision aerial operation in history,” following reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated.
In a statement posted to his verified social media account, Hegseth said the operation — codenamed Operation Epic Fury — was launched overnight on the direct orders of President Donald Trump. He said the campaign targeted Iran’s missile infrastructure, production facilities, and naval assets, marking a decisive escalation in the conflict between Washington and Tehran.
“The Iranian regime had their chance, yet refused to make a deal — and now they are suffering the consequences,” Hegseth wrote, accusing Iran of nearly five decades of hostility toward the United States. He argued that previous administrations failed to adequately confront Tehran’s regional aggression and weapons ambitions.
Hegseth reiterated Trump’s long-standing position that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, vowing that Iranian missile systems capable of threatening Americans “will be destroyed,” along with the country’s missile production industry. He also declared that Iran’s navy would be dismantled as part of the broader campaign.
“The United States did not start this conflict, but we will finish it,” Hegseth stated, warning that any actor who kills or threatens Americans would be pursued relentlessly.
Iranian officials have condemned the operation as unlawful aggression and vowed retaliation, though Tehran has not formally confirmed reports regarding Khamenei’s death. Military analysts say the scale of the U.S. operation signals a significant expansion of hostilities, with regional forces now on high alert….Discover More
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