The US-Israeli war with Iran is expanding, and Washington wants maximum freedom of action. Air and naval strikes lead the fight for now, but the Pentagon is leaving open the most consequential escalation: sending US troops onto Iranian soil.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that there are currently no American forces deployed inside Iran, but he deliberately refused to rule out the possibility as the conflict escalates.
‘WE’LL GO AS FAR AS WE NEED’
Asked directly whether US troops were on the ground, Hegseth told reporters: “No but we’re not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do.” He added: “President Trump ensures that our enemies understand we’ll go as far as we need to go to advance American interests.”
The Pentagon Chief’s remarks signal that while Washington is relying on air and naval power for now, military options remain open as Iran continues missile and drone attacks across the Middle East region and US military bases.
He also clarified that the campaign was not intended to change Iran politically or to occupy the country militarily, and ruled out setting a timeline for the operation. “No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise. No politically correct wars. We fight to win and we don’t waste time or lives,” he said.
The Pentagon Chief has repeatedly framed the operation as a hard, limited war aimed at destroying Iran’s offensive capability rather than launching another Iraq-style intervention. “This is not Iraq, this is not endless war,” he said in earlier remarks.
CONFLICT WIDENS IN MIDDLE EAST
Washington says the campaign aims to dismantle Iran’s missiles, drones, naval forces and nuclear programme after years of confrontation with Tehran. Pete Hegseth has framed the war as the culmination of that rivalry, saying the US did not start it but President Trump is finishing it.
So far, US and Israeli strikes have targeted Iranian military and nuclear facilities and killed senior leadership figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Iran has responded with waves of missiles and drones against Israel, Gulf states and US military bases.
At least 555 people have died in Iran since the US-Israeli strikes began, according to the Red Crescent Society. Four US troops have been killed in the escalation.
Continuing the strikes, Iran’s top official said Tehran “will not negotiate” with the United States. Israel and Hezbollah are trading blows as the conflict widens, while explosions have been heard in Gulf cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
With inputs from agencies
