Washington, March 2, (dpa/GNA) – US defence chief, Pete Hegseth, said on Monday that Washington intends keep its military campaign in the Middle East limited in scope and duration.
“To the media outlets and political left screaming ‘endless wars’: Stop. This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” he said in his first public comments since joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran began.
Hegseth said the Trump administration had learned from past wars and was pursuing “clear” objectives in Iran: “Destroy the missile threat, destroy the navy, no nukes.”
He rejected suggestions that the operation was directly aimed at overthrowing Iran’s leadership. “This is not a regime change war, but the regime sure did change,” he said.
President Donald Trump suggested on Sunday the war could last about four weeks. Hegseth declined to confirm that estimate, saying it could end sooner but might also take longer.
Israel and the United States began striking Iran on Saturday, with Israeli forces killing supreme leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has responded with attacks on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf region.
Both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Iranians to use the opportunity provided by their military campaign, to oust the hardline clerical leadership that took power in Tehran in 1979.
Shortly before Hegseth spoke in Washington, the US Central Command said four US military personnel had been killed in the operation so far.
GNA