US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Iran had fired missiles from schools and hospitals, accusing Tehran of deliberately putting civilians at risk as its military weakens.
"They fire missiles from schools and hospitals deliberately, deliberately targeting innocents because they know their military is being systematically degraded and annihilated," Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing alongside Dan Caine.
Hegseth said Iran was "desperate and scrambling" and added that Tehran was "badly losing on day 10 of Operation Epic Fury."
He also said US President Donald Trump would never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
US says Iran ‘badly losing’ on day 10 of operation
Hegseth said Iran was "desperate and scrambling" and that US forces were pressing their campaign.
"Iran stands alone, and they are badly losing on day 10 of Operation Epic Fury," he said.
"We're crushing the enemy in an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force, we will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated," he added.
Pentagon outlines objectives of Iran campaign
Hegseth said the operation had three main objectives: destroying Iran's missile stockpiles and launchers, destroying its navy and permanently preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
"One, destroy their missile stockpiles, their missile launchers and their defense industrial base," he said. "Two, destroy their navy, and three, permanently deny Iran nuclear weapons forever."
US expects most intense day of strikes
Hegseth said the United States planned its most intense day of strikes yet.
"For example, today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran - the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes," he said.
He added that Iran had fired the lowest number of missiles in the past 24 hours since the start of the operation.
