With the US and Israel continuing to attack Iran on the fifth day, Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary Of War, on Wednesday said that America is winning the ongoing war and the two most powerful air forces in the world will have complete control of Iranian skies.
"America is winning—decisively, devastatingly, and without mercy. They are toast, and they know it. And we have only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralise, destroy, and defeat their capabilities— just four days in and the results have been incredible."
The secretary of war made the remarks during the briefing along with Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also confirmed that an American submarine sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo in international waters and stated that Iranian leaders will only see US and Israeli air power every day until they decide it's over.
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— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) March 4, 2026
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"Starting last night, and to be completed in a few days, in under a week, the two most powerful air forces in the world will have complete control of Iranian skies. Uncontested airspace. It means we will fly all day, all night, day and night, finding, fixing and finishing missiles, defence industrial base, Iranian leaders and military leaders."
Hegseth also claimed that Iran's capabilities are evaporating by the hour, while Americans' are dominating — "more bombers and more fighters are arriving today."
"Operation Epic Fury delivered twice the airpower of shock and awe of Iraq in 2003 — minus Paul Bremer and the nation-building. The campaign has seven times the intensity of Israel's previous operation against Iran. We are just getting started. We are accelerating, not decelerating."
He further added that with complete control of the skies, the US would be using a 500-pound, 1000-pound and 2,000-pound laser-guided precision bomb of which they have a nearly unlimited stockpile.
"The enemy can no longer shoot the volume, nor are they close. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to."
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"We set the tempo"
Hegseth said that Iran cannot outlast them. "We're going to ensure that we set the tone and tempo of this fight. That's why stories that try to make it look like we're limited—the only limits we have in this is President Trump's desire to achieve specific effects on behalf of the American people."
'The throttle is coming up'
Meanwhile, Gen. Dan Caine released the names of four soldiers who were killed in the battle,
"It's with profound sadness and gratitude that I share the names of four of our six fallen heroes, all from the 103rd Sustainment Command — US Army Reserves out of Des Moines, Iowa: Captain Cody Khork, Sergent 1st Class Noah Tietjens, Sergent 1st Class Nicole Amor and Sergent Declan Coady To the families of our fallen, we grieve with you today."
He stated that Iran's theater ballistic missile shots fired are down 86% from the first day of fighting, with a 23% decrease just in the last 24 hours.
"Their one-way attack drone shots are down 73% from the opening days. "This is a point of munitions transition, from standoff munitions to stand-in munitions. The throttle is coming up."
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