Hegseth: "Most Intense Attacks" on Iran Today; 120 Warships Destroyed, No End Date Set

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, at a joint Pentagon press conference with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine on Thursday (28 Esfand), announced that "today will see the most intense attacks against Iran," reaffirming that US military operations continue in line with objectives set from day one. Hegseth announced that 120 Iranian warships have been destroyed and 11 minelayer vessels have been targeted. General Dan Caine stated that US forces are "advancing deeper into Iranian territory every day" and that the US will continue major combat operations inside Iran. Caine also announced that the United States has conducted strikes against Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq, deploying AH-64 Apache helicopters to suppress any threats to US forces and interests in Iraq. Hegseth said there is "no specific timeframe for the end of the war with Iran." Defending Operation Epic Fury, Hegseth said this conflict differs from previous US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has "laser focus." He said this engagement will not become an "endless war" and criticized past Bush and Obama administration policies as "foolish." Hegseth outlined unchanged US military objectives: destroying missiles and launch platforms, dismantling Iran's military infrastructure to prevent rebuilding, eliminating Iran's naval capability, and preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He said: "Our operations are precise, focused, and decisive. Iran spent decades investing in missiles, drones, and underground facilities instead of its people. We are targeting them... in a way no other military in the world can." Hegseth sarcastically remarked that "the last job in the world anyone would want right now is commanding the IRGC and Basij — a temporary job." He criticized European governments and media, saying "the world should be grateful to President Trump" for protecting it from the Iranian regime. He also said the US is working on providing internet access to the Iranian people, and that post-conflict military presence in the Middle East would depend on US national interests. Families of fallen US soldiers "want us to finish the job," Hegseth added. General Caine, responding to whether Iran can still strike Gulf energy infrastructure nearly three weeks into the war, said Iran "entered this conflict with a large number of weapons" but still "retains some capability" — which is why the US continues to act "aggressively and decisively."