Newswave
Mar 10, 2026

Pentagon Releases Videos and Images of Iranian Strikes as Conflict Enters Third Day

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Defense has released the first official videos and images showing American military actions against Iran, as the conflict enters its third day. The campaign, referred to as Operation Epic Fury, has already resulted in the deaths of four U.S. service members, while more than a dozen others have been injured.

During a briefing early Monday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth outlined the primary objectives of the military operation. According to Hegseth, the focus of the campaign is to neutralize Iran’s missile capabilities and prevent the country from advancing its nuclear ambitions.

“Our goal is clear,” Hegseth said. “Destroy Iranian missiles, destroy their missile production, dismantle their navy and key security infrastructure — and they will never possess nuclear weapons.”

Hegseth was joined at the briefing by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, who explained that the Pentagon is currently assessing the full impact of the strikes.

“It will take some time for us to conduct a proper battle damage assessment,” Caine said. “CENTCOM will continue to evaluate the targets and adjust operations accordingly.”

Operation Will Not Become an “Endless War”

Despite the escalating military campaign, Hegseth emphasized that the mission is not intended to become a prolonged conflict similar to previous wars in the Middle East.

“This is not Iraq,” he said. “This is not endless. Our generation knows better. The last 20 years of nation-building wars were mistakes, and this operation is the opposite. It’s a clear, decisive mission: eliminate the missile threat, cripple the navy, and ensure Iran cannot obtain nuclear weapons.”

Hegseth also stated that there are currently no U.S. ground troops operating inside Iran, though he declined to rule out future possibilities.

“I’m not going to get into hypotheticals about what we will or will not do moving forward,” he told reporters.

Casualties Rising on Both Sides

As the conflict intensifies, casualties continue to mount across the region. Israeli authorities report that at least 11 people have been killed in Israel, while the Iranian Red Crescent says more than 555 people have died in Iran since hostilities began.

U.S. Officials Blame Iran for Escalation

Hegseth placed responsibility for the conflict on Iran, citing what he described as the regime’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and its actions targeting global shipping routes.

“Iran put a conventional gun to our head while trying to lie its way toward a nuclear bomb,” Hegseth said. “Their stubborn nuclear ambitions and threats to global shipping left us no choice but to respond.”

Rubio: A New Geopolitical Era

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the conflict reflects a broader shift in global geopolitics.

“The world is changing very fast right in front of us,” Rubio said. “The old world many of us grew up in is gone. We’re entering a new era, and it requires all of us — especially our allies — to rethink our roles and how we work together moving forward.”

Rubio said the United States has been holding private discussions with allied nations about how to respond to the rapidly changing global environment.

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