Pete Hegseth defends Iran strikes, outlines army goals

[ad_1] NEW Now you can hearken to Fox Information articles!

Struggle Secretary Pete Hegseth defended U.S. army operations focusing on Iran throughout a Cupboard assembly Thursday, praising the marketing campaign as swift and decisive whereas criticizing media protection of the battle.

Hegseth took purpose on the press early in his remarks, urging reporters to precisely painting the struggle effort.

"You wouldn’t understand it if you happen to listened to the dishonest, anti-Trump media," Hegseth mentioned. "These cameras… they've a selection. You’re both informing the American individuals of the reality otherwise you’re not… My message to the media is: get it proper."

Hegseth framed the operation as a historic success, crediting President Donald Trump for authorizing what he described as a speedy and efficient dismantling of Iran's army capabilities.

OVER 90% OF IRANIAN MISSILES INTERCEPTED, BUT A CRITICAL VULNERABILITY IS GROWING, REPORT WARNS

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/672/378/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-pentagon-dc-03-19-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1344/756/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-pentagon-dc-03-19-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/931/523/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-pentagon-dc-03-19-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1862/1046/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-pentagon-dc-03-19-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/720/405/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-pentagon-dc-03-19-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1440/810/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-pentagon-dc-03-19-2026-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the media throughout a press briefing on the Pentagon in Washington, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Picture)

"Iran had a contemporary army, and by no means in recorded historical past has a nation’s army been so rapidly and successfully neutralized," Hegseth mentioned. "This isn't an countless struggle. It’s a decisive marketing campaign with clear goals… to destroy Iran’s offensive military capabilities and guarantee they by no means receive a nuclear weapon."

The remarks come because the administration outlines its technique following current strikes on Iranian targets, describing the marketing campaign as centered on outlined army goals reasonably than extended engagement.

Hegseth cited operational figures throughout his remarks, stating that greater than 10,000 enemy targets had been hit, together with over 150 naval vessels and underground amenities.

"That is stuff for the books. That is stuff for legacy, Mr. President, to make sure future generations should not have to reside below the specter of a nuclear-armed Iran," he mentioned.

Hegseth additionally criticized press protection of the operation, accusing retailers of failing to precisely replicate army efforts on the bottom.

"You wouldn’t understand it if you happen to listened to the dishonest, anti-Trump media," he mentioned. "Behind each headline you write, there’s a helicopter crew within the air. Behind each information story, there’s a battalion on the transfer. Behind each so-called ‘faux information’ story, there’s an F-35 pilot executing a harmful mission."

TRUMP LASHES OUT AT 'SICK' IRANIAN LEADERS, CONFIRMS ESTIMATED TIMELINE FOR ENDING WAR

President Donald Trump sits at a desk monitoring army operations throughout Operation Epic Fury towards Iran on the White Home in Washington, D.C., on March 2. (The White Home by way of X Account/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)

Drawing on previous expertise, Hegseth referenced public debates throughout the Iraq Struggle, arguing that media narratives have traditionally conflicted with army goals.

"I’m not a rookie on this realm," he mentioned. "In 2007, I helped lead the general public combat when individuals stood within the Senate and declared the struggle was misplaced earlier than it even turned."

He maintained that present operations differ from previous conflicts, describing the marketing campaign as structured and efficient reasonably than open-ended.

"This isn't parody. This isn't chaos. That is success… pure American success, on plan and forward of tempo," Hegseth mentioned.

US MOVES AIRBORNE TROOPS, MARINES AS IRAN REJECTS CEASEFIRE, RAISING GROUND WAR POTENTIAL

Israeli safety forces and rescue workforce reply on the web site of an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP Picture)

Hegseth additionally claimed Iranian naval capabilities had been considerably degraded, stating that the commander of Iran's naval forces had been killed in a current operation.

"They not have a navy, Mr. President," Hegseth said. "Their naval commander was killed in a single day in operations."

"If President Trump had not acted, you’d be screaming, ‘Why not?’ And now that he has taken decisive motion, you’re asking why he did," Hegseth mentioned.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Hegseth additionally referenced previous U.S. overseas coverage below the Obama administration, criticizing the Iran nuclear deal.

"Lots of the army factories and bases that at the moment are being destroyed had been paid for by pallets of American money that Barack Obama flew to Tehran below the Iran deal," Hegseth mentioned.

"Make no mistake… we needed to act," he famous. "Our goal is the whole dismantling of their nuclear program."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

CJ Womack is an affiliate editor at Fox Information.

CJ joined Fox Information Digital's workforce in 2026, which highlights the very important function journalism performs in shaping politics and tradition. He has years of expertise analyzing and reporting on the information media.