Weather 
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared Wednesday that “America is winning” at a news briefing at the Pentagon as the U.S. campaign against Iran entered its fifth day.
Appearing with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine in their second briefing since the war began, Hegseth stressed that the operation is only four days old, noting that “metrics are shifting, dust is settling and more forces are arriving.”
“It’s very early, and as President Trump has said, we will take all the time we need to make sure that we succeed,” Hegseth said.
The Defense Secretary touted “incredible” and “historic” results so far.
Caine said the operation has destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels, one submarine, “and effectively neutralized, at this point in time, Iran’s major naval presence in theater out there.”
“Only the United States of America could lead this, only us,” Hegseth said. “But when you add the Israeli Defense Forces, a devastatingly capable force, the combination is sheer destruction for our radical Islamist Iranian adversaries. They are toast, and they know it. Or at least soon enough, they will know it.”
Hegseth said “we have only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralize, destroy and defeat their capabilities.”
Hegseth said “Iran negotiated in bad faith, stalling, scheming and preparing to strike, and we acted defensively to defend our people, our interests and our allies.” “Four days in, we have only just begun the fight,” Hegseth said.
The U.S. military has hit more than 2,000 targets in Iran, including command and control centers, ballistic missile sites, Iranian navy ships and submarines, and IRGC headquarters.
So far, six U.S. service members have been killed and 10 seriously wounded, a U.S. official told CBS News. Caine on Wednesday formally announced the names of four of the service members.
“To the families of our fallen, we grieve with you today,” Caine said, noting that the names of the other service members are being withheld for now.
On Monday, Caine said the military expected to take “additional losses.”
Caine again outlined the military objectives of the campaign, saying the first is to target and eliminate Iran’s ballistic missile systems, to destroy the Iranian navy and to ensure Iran cannot rapidly rebuild or reconstitute its combat capability or power.
“As of this morning, U.S. Central Command is making steady progress,” Caine said.
On Tuesday, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby was asked during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing why it was necessary for the U.S. to take military action against Tehran over the weekend.
Colby referred to remarks made by Hegseth, Caine, and President Trump, who’ve spoken of the “rapid buildup and reconstitution” of Iran’s missile and one-way attack drone capabilities, but did not give a specific reason for what prompted President Trump’s order to begin the operation last weekend.
