US and Israel intensify military operations against Iran as Pentagon warns of escalating strikes in ongoing Middle East conflict.
US Warns of Escalating Military Campaign
On the fifth day of Middle East warfare, US and Israeli forces continue strikes against Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the operation remains in its “early” phase, announcing plans to accelerate military actions.
“As President Trump has said, larger waves of strikes are coming,” Hegseth stated. “We are just beginning. We are accelerating, not slowing down.”
Aim for Air Supremacy and Deeper Strikes
The US Secretary of Defense outlined that the next phase aims for American and Israeli air forces to achieve “full control over Iranian airspace,” with operations expected to conclude in “less than a week.”
“There is supposed to be no fair fight. And this is not a fair fight. We strike when our opponent is down, exactly as it should be,” the defense secretary stated during a Pentagon press conference.
Iranian Rocket Launches Plummet
General Dan Caine, the highest-ranking US military officer, confirmed that after gaining air superiority, American forces will begin expanding operations deeper into Iranian territory.
“The number of ballistic missiles launched by Iran has decreased by 86% compared to the first day of fighting,” Caine reported. “A 23% decrease occurred in the last 24 hours, while launches of one-way drones fell by 73%.”
School Attack Under Investigation
The briefing also addressed an attack on a girls’ elementary school in Iran that killed over 100 people. “All I can say is that we are conducting an investigation into this matter,” Hegseth stated.
“We have never attacked civilian targets, but we want to examine this situation,” he added.
Historic Naval Action
During the briefing, Hegseth revealed that an American submarine sank an Iranian frigate in international waters. According to Hegseth, this marked the first sinking of an enemy vessel by torpedo since World War II.
Decapitation Strategy Unveiled
The February 28 coordinated attack by the US and Israel represented the beginning of a broad military operation against Iran. The stated objectives include implementing a decapitation plan aimed at removing Iran’s leadership and limiting the current regime’s autonomy.
“The death of Khamenei is a relief for us, but there is no joy. It is still war,” stated Iranians living in Wrocław, expressing both lifelong fear and newfound hope amid the conflict.
