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 Cain 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.
“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.”
So far, six U.S. service members have been killed and 10 seriously wounded, a U.S. official told CBS News. On Monday, Caine said the military expected to take “additional losses.”
Hegseth on Monday also outlined the U.S. military objectives, which included destroying Iranian offensive missiles and their production, in addition to Iran’s navy and other security infrastructure. He did not offer an update on the progress so far or an estimated timeline for the duration of the operation.
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.
How to watch the Iran briefing by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine
- What: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine brief on Iran operations
- Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
- Time: 8 a.m. ET
- Location: The Pentagon
- Online stream: Live on CBS News 24/7
