US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that the United States will strike Iran hard and bomb key facilities, speaking at CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa. Hegseth said the strikes will be 'strong and clear' and could stretch into a second night, after President Trump announced fresh attacks for 'today.'
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth escalated the administration's military posture against Iran on Wednesday, vowing that American strikes will target 'key facilities' and could extend into a second night. Speaking to journalists at US Central Command headquarters in Tampa, he said the operation would be 'strong and clear.' The remarks follow President Donald Trump's announcement that the US will launch fresh attacks on Iran 'today,' accusing Tehran of 'playing us for suckers' on a nuclear deal.
As The Zioneer reported since 23:44 Jerusalem, Hegseth's threat has grown in specificity through multiple statements. At 23:44 he first warned of bombs 'tapping' key facilities unless Iran made a deal, then confirmed strikes would hit 'hard tonight,' specifying 'knock-knock-knock' bombs on key facilities at 23:44. By 23:44 he described the strikes as 'clear and strong,' framing them as negotiation pressure, and at 23:44 he expressed hope Iran would make a 'good decision.' At 23:44 he said Trump had ordered the strikes and CENTCOM would be 'busy.' The Pentagon's signals were reinforced by an Israeli source's report at 23:49 Jerusalem (Channel 12's Amit Segal) that the US would strike 'major facilities.' Iran, as reported at 23:44 Jerusalem, warned it is 'fully prepared' and would target any country enabling US operations.
As The Zioneer reported, President Trump confirmed earlier on Wednesday that the strikes are part of an accelerated operational tempo, vowing continued action after chairing a Situation Room meeting late Tuesday. Hegseth had earlier warned that Washington would 'negotiate through bombs' if necessary, stating 'we are very good at that.' The administration frames the attacks as a tool to pressure negotiations, not a return to full-scale war.
The precise operational targets and start time remain unclear, and it is not yet known whether Iran will follow through on its threat to retaliate against countries that enable US strikes.
8 developments
- ConfirmedHegseth warns US will hit Iran hard on American terms
- ConfirmedAmit Segal: US will strike 'major facilities' in Iran
- DevelopingHegseth says US will keep large forces in region, reinstate Iran siege if commitments unmet
- StrongHegseth says US on track to sign deal with Iran, expects talks to continue
Source and signal
- Internal intake