Hegseth: "This is only just the beginning" of U.S. strikes on Iran
Mar 9th 2026
U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran entered a second week under Operation Epic Fury, which the Pentagon says involves more than 50,000 U.S. forces and thousands of targeted strikes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told CBS News the campaign will intensify and that the United States aims to force Iran into combat ineffectiveness.
- Pentagon calls the campaign Operation Epic Fury and says more than 50,000 U.S. military personnel are involved.
- U.S. military officials told CBS about 3,000 targets inside Iran have been struck so far.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. and Israeli air power is overwhelming and the campaign will escalate using large conventional munitions.
- Hegseth echoed the White House demand for Iran's unconditional surrender and said the U.S. will set the terms and aim to render Iran combat ineffective.
- Six U.S. Army reservists were killed in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait and one additional U.S. death was later announced, while Iranian casualty estimates are about 1,600 including 168 at a southern school according to a human rights group, with U.S. investigators probing the school strike.
- Iran announced a successor to its slain leader and President Trump said any leader picked without U.S. approval "is not going to last long," according to his comments.
- The war has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed U.S. gas prices up roughly 50 cents per gallon, and CBS reported that Russia may be sharing intelligence with Iran that U.S. officials say they are tracking.