Pentagon update on Operation Epic Fury

[0:00] I witnessed urgency to finish the job, urgency to achieve mission success, [0:04] not looking at the next rotation, only moving as fast as possible to win. [0:11] I got a chance to troop the line, to witness first. [0:35] It was the kind of warfighting American spirit that comes with a clear mission [0:38] against a determined enemy. [0:42] A crew chief we flew with summed it up nicely. [0:46] He said, it's been a busy few weeks, sir. [0:47] Tough stuff, but I'm so honored to be called up. [0:51] This fight is long overdue. [0:52] We need to address it for our kids. [0:57] We cannot pass the buck. [0:58] Please thank the president from us. [1:02] I heard that time and time again. [1:05] I asked each young American, what do you need? [1:08] And nobody said better equipment. [1:10] Nobody said more comfortable living conditions. [1:12] Nobody said send me home. [1:15] Well, of course, eventually we want all those things. [1:17] They do too. [1:19] But what those Americans said to me, young and old, officer and NCO, [1:25] male and female, black and white, was, [1:28] let's go. [1:29] Let's finish the mission. [1:31] Get us even more bombs, bigger bombs, more targets. [1:34] Let us finish this. [1:37] In fact, Admiral Cooper noted this morning [1:39] that the three Air Force captains shot down by Kuwaiti-friendly fire [1:43] early in the fight, weeks ago. [1:46] They never left the theater. [1:48] All dropped bombs over Tehran last night. [1:54] These men and women live the Iranian threat every day, [1:56] incoming missiles and drones, [1:58] and know what a world looks like, what the world would look like [2:01] if Iran had the most dangerous weapons. [2:03] The world's most dangerous weapons, a nuclear weapon. [2:07] As President Trump has said time and time again for years, [2:09] and in this administration, Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, [2:12] and they won't. [2:14] These troops, they want to finish this fight for their kids and their grandkids. [2:18] This is about history. [2:21] This is about legacy. [2:23] Success matters. [2:25] And because of this president, and these Americans, [2:29] we're closer than ever before to winning. [2:32] President Trump is doing what no other president had the guts to do. [2:37] Previous presidents were, you know, [2:38] we're all talk. He's all action. On the battlefield, because of the latitude the president [2:45] has given us, American firepower is only increasing. Iran's decreasing. We have more and more options [2:54] and they have less. Just one month in, only one month, we set the terms. The upcoming days will [3:03] be decisive. Iran knows that and there's almost nothing they can militarily do about it. Yes, [3:09] they will still shoot some missiles, but we will shoot them down. Of note, the last 24 hours [3:16] saw the lowest number of enemy missiles and drones fired by Iran. They will go underground, [3:22] but we will find them. We recently destroyed another one of their command bunkers. Leaders [3:29] forced to flee. No water, no power, no oxygen, no command and control. Their faith in their caves [3:36] diminishing. The latest intel is clear out of CENTCOM. Our strikes are damaging the morale of [3:44] Iranian military, leading to widespread desertions, key personnel shortages, and causing frustrations [3:50] amongst the Iranian people. We have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We [3:50] have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We [3:50] have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We [3:51] have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We [3:51] have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We [3:52] have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We [3:54] have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We [3:54] have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We [3:55] have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We have no idea what's going on. We [3:55] dynamic strikes alone. Dynamic strike is a strike where a pilot leaves and during their flight they [4:02] get a new target set based on real-time intel given to them. A new launcher, a new location, [4:08] a new troop formation. A dynamic target is one that changes while you're in the air because of [4:13] improved intelligence. 200 dynamic strikes alone in addition to the pre-planned targets. The video [4:19] the president posted last night of Esfahan, an ammo depot struck by U.S. bombers. You see you [4:26] don't get to see many of those videos because as a reminder Iran has still shut off the internet [4:32] to 99.9% of its population. But if Iran is wise they will cut a deal. President Trump doesn't [4:42] bluff and he does not back down. You can ask Khomeini about that. The new Iranian regime should [4:48] know that by now. This new regime, because regime change has occurred, should be wiser than the last. [4:58] President Trump will make a deal he is willing and the terms of the deal are known to them. [5:04] If Iran is not willing then the United States will not be willing. [5:06] The United States War Department will continue with even more intensity. Standing here this [5:14] morning in this briefing room, in my mind's eye, I'm actually looking out at the groups I met this [5:19] weekend. The pilots, the logisticians, the intel analysts, the targeters, the sustainers, the flight [5:28] crews, the air defenders, the base security, those maintainers. So we walked up at sunset [5:36] with the chill and the air on the flight line. May God watch over all of them each day and each [5:45] night. May his almighty and eternal arms of providence stretch over them and protect them [5:51] and bring them peace. In the name of Jesus Christ and amen. Mr. Chairman. [5:59] Thank you Mr. Secretary. Good morning everyone and thank you again for being here. As operations [6:04] continue I remain deeply grateful for the service and determination of 2.8 million members of our [6:10] joint force, each of whom are serving something greater than themselves. Every day those deployed [6:17] cases, those at home who are deploying forward and bomber pulses and others put themselves in [6:23] harm's way and we owe them a deep debt of gratitude. I remain especially grateful for our fallen who [6:30] gave the ultimate sacrifice. We'll never forget their valor and their determination to do something [6:36] greater than themselves and each day we continue to earn what they've given to us. This morning I [6:42] want to share that yesterday the joint force had the honor of participating. [6:47] In the burial of Colonel Clarence Emil Bud Anderson who passed away in May of 2024 at the ripe old age [6:55] of 102. He was laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery yesterday morning alongside his wife of 70 years [7:03] Eleanor who he married on February 23rd 1945. She passed away in 2015 at the age of 92. [7:11] Bud yesterday a legend to our Air Force and fighter pilots everywhere was honored with a [7:17] mission flyby of F-35s and a four-ship of P-51 Mustangs. He was one of the most prolific flying [7:24] aces of World War II and the highest scoring P-51 ace with 16 and a quarter kills in his squadron [7:31] and in his group and he served from 1942 to 1972 and his last combat tour was flying F-104 [7:40] Thunder Chiefs over North Vietnam. For anyone that had the chance to meet Colonel Anderson you knew [7:46] what an incredibly special man he was and that's true for each and every one of our World War II vets [7:53] who become fewer and fewer with each passing day. They are the greatest generation and give us the [8:00] gift of an incredible example as we execute Operation Epic Fury today and Colonel Anderson we [8:06] mourn for your loss and remember that smile on the right side as you went out to do our nation's [8:14] business. I'd like to now share an operational [8:16] update. Our joint force continues to focus on our military objectives as we systematically continue [8:22] to degrade and destroy Iran's ability to project power and threaten stability beyond its borders. [8:29] First the joint force continues to destroy Iran's ballistic missile and UAS capabilities. We remain [8:36] focused on interdicting and destroying the logistical and supply chains that feed these [8:42] programs and this remains a truly joint effort. [8:46] Our joint force continues to execute long-range precision fires around the clock from air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace. [8:51] Long-range bombers from U.S. Strategic Command are coordinating with tactical fighter aircraft from our joint force [8:57] launched from bases around the region and the continental United States. While simultaneously Navy fighters from [9:05] the sea and sailors continue to project power from the sea while Army and Marine artillery units continue to [9:11] execute long-range precision fires deep into enemy territory against high-value units. [9:16] Meanwhile on the defense side our army and air defenders and aviators as the secretary talked [9:23] about remain vigilant forming a shield to protect our forces and our partners intercepting missiles [9:29] and drones. Together we continue to deliver precision strikes against key manufacturing nodes, [9:35] component storage sites, research facilities deep within Iranian territory and over the past 29 I'm [9:44] sorry 30 days we've struck more than 11,000 targets. [9:46] Given the increase in air superiority we've successfully started to conduct the first [9:53] over land B-52 missions which allow us as we've said before to continue to get on top of the [10:00] enemy and as the secretary talked about switch towards more and more dynamic targets uh servicing [10:08] mobile targets around the battle space we've continued to do the work against Iran's missile [10:15] drone, and naval production facilities, and we continue the multi-domain pressure that we've [10:20] talked about. Second, on the Navy front, we continue to assert dominance over the Iranian [10:25] Navy. We remain focused on targeting their mine lane capability, their naval assets, and we've [10:32] now, as I mentioned briefly last time, started to work attack helicopters and other close air [10:37] support assets into the naval domain. CENTCOM continues to identify and work against naval [10:44] depots and storage areas, and we've taken out, again, more than 150 ships, including all [10:50] Jamaran-class frigates inside their Navy. Third, we continue to prosecute our campaign against [10:56] our defense industrial base at scale. This includes factories, warehouses, nuclear weapons [11:03] research and development labs, and the associated infrastructure required for Iran to reconstitute [11:09] its combat capability. I'd like to continue [11:13] to [11:14] highlight my theme of highlighting the incredible contributions of Americans to our joint force. [11:20] Today I want to talk a little bit about a different front line, a line that doesn't have bunkers or [11:25] guard posts, but is just as critical to our nation's security, our National Assembly lines. [11:32] Today I want to recognize a group of Americans who live at the beginning of our nation's combat [11:37] power, the Americans who actually make our weapons, both inside our defense industrial base, but even [11:43] more broadly inside our national industrial base. In every military option we could not and can not do our jobs without [11:54] the men and women across our country who show up every day around the clock to a factory floor, a workshop, a laboratory, [12:02] who build the weapons and capabilities we need to project American combat power at the time and place of our choosing. These great Americans, and I've had a chance to speak to them and I think they do know that there's a lot of proof in their Ojibwe narrative. [12:12] chance to spend some time with him when I was in the private sector, are the core of American [12:17] combat power. They're the machinists running high-tech CNC machines, cutting raw blocks of [12:23] metal into incredibly precise parts. They're the assembly workers painstakingly taking a kit of [12:30] parts and turning that into a complex guidance system or precision munition or a rocket motor [12:36] or building a jet or submarine, or that there are quality assurance technicians who ensure [12:42] that when a warfighter pulls a trigger, the weapon works every time. This can be and is [12:50] tough and gritty work. It's not a quiet office and a desk with paper, and there's nothing wrong [12:56] with that, but this is exactly the way this group of Americans likes it. I know this. I've seen it [13:02] myself, and I remain deeply honored by that gift. It's often loud, [13:06] and dangerous work demanding that requires absolute focus for hours at a time with deep [13:13] commitment to get it right every single time. It's hands-on work where one uncaught mistake [13:20] or deviation can put an American's life at risk. A single misplaced wire, a microscopic flaw in a [13:27] weld, incorrectly calibrated sensor could mean the difference between mission success [13:32] or mission failure. The difference is measured in the lives [13:36] of the people who are involved in the mission. [13:36] We have our sons and daughters who we put around the field and on the field of battle. We rely on [13:43] and trust in these great Americans, and it's not just their manufacturing skill. It's their [13:48] innovative minds and their entrepreneurial spirit. From those who build exquisite capabilities down [13:55] to the mom-and-pop machine shops all over this great country, they live at the beginning of [14:01] and the core of America's combat capability, constantly adapting, [14:06] constantly improving, constantly learning. And there are examples of this throughout history [14:13] and current days, to include building things like the F-117 stealth fighter, the B-2 stealth bomber, [14:21] making our combat capability undetectable over the enemy, to today's B-21 and F-47. [14:28] It's work like in the shipyards of the East Coast and Northeast side of the United States [14:33] that go out and build America's nuclear submarines that [14:36] allow us to patrol around the world at the time and place of our choosing. [14:42] These innovators, these workers, these incredible Americans don't get the same glory as a fighter [14:47] pilot returning to a carrier deck at night or an artilleryman sending rounds downrange, [14:53] and yet they show up every single day. And without them, we could not do the work that [14:59] we are tasked to do. 24-7, they build the tools that we need to do our business. The skill, [15:06] the commitment, the patriotism, the dedication poured into every piece of combat capability and [15:13] hardware is seen and felt out at the edge of the force, as the Secretary talked about those [15:20] young bomb builders out in the desert that he had the chance to see. You can see it, you can feel it, [15:27] and it's real, and we're deeply grateful. So to the American workforce out there, [15:33] both inside our defense industrial base and internationally, [15:36] thank you on behalf of the Joint Force. We carry the weapons that you build, we rely on the systems [15:45] that you create, and the distance from that factory floor and that assembly line to the front line is [15:51] incredibly short. Thank you. Keep it up. And to our adversaries out there, I remind you to beware [15:58] of the American workforce. We continue to press forward in our military objectives. The Secretary [16:04] and I remain deeply humbled by the success of the military. Thank you. [16:06] The spirit, tenacity, commitment, and grit of our 2.8 million member strong Joint Force. I want to, [16:13] as always, thank the force and their families, and as always, remember our fallen. We carry [16:19] with them and their names every day. Sir, I'll turn it back over to you. [16:23] Absolutely. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Two things. He didn't note it, but in memory of Colonel [16:27] Bud Anderson, the Chairman himself flew his F-16 to honor him recently. And thank you for highlighting [16:33] the defense industrial base, the arsenal of freedom. It's worth noting, no one has [16:36] built that defense industrial base faster and with more purpose than President Trump in his [16:41] first term. And now we're rebuilding the arsenal of freedom. Our defense industrial base is more [16:46] vibrant today than it's been since World War II and growing rapidly. Contrast that with Iran, [16:52] whose defense industrial base is nearly completely destroyed. Their ability to [16:58] reconstitute the weapons of war they're using now that they're hiding in underground facilities and [17:02] attriting over time, their ability to rebuild that is negligible. And I think [17:07] that contrast is an enduring legacy of this as well. Right here. [17:12] We've had some signaling that the U.S. will retake control of the Strait of Hormuz. At that [17:19] point, what military posture will be imposed to guarantee safe passage for our allies, deter our [17:25] enemies, and demonstrate U.S. dominance in the region? And also, can you speak to how much [17:31] America's adversaries, Russia, China, North Korea, how much they're supporting Iran's war machine at [17:39] this point with arms and intelligence and what we are militarily doing to punish the enemy coalition? [17:45] Appreciate both questions. On the Strait of Hormuz, there are many more vessels flowing [17:50] through today than there were, as the President has arranged. The President's been clear to Iran, [17:55] open it for business, or we have options, and we certainly do. And when you look at what the [18:00] Chairman laid out with the Navy, with the Navy industrial base, with coastal cruise missiles, [18:03] with UAVs, with countermine capabilities, we've been focused from the beginning on attriting and [18:08] defeating their forces. And I think that's a key point. And I think that's a key point. And I think [18:09] those capabilities and limiting their options, there's lots we're doing as well, some of which [18:14] is known, some of which is not known, to set the conditions. And I think the President was clear [18:18] this morning in his truth that there are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step [18:25] up on this critical waterway as well. It's not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, [18:31] there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that [18:35] as well. So, he's pointing out, this is an international waterway that we use less than [18:39] most, in fact, dramatically less than most. So, [18:41] the world ought to pay attention to be prepared to stand up. President Trump's been willing to [18:45] do the heavy lifting on behalf of the free world to address this threat of Iran. It's not just [18:50] our problem set going forward, even though we have done the lion's share of preparation to ensure [18:55] that that strait will be open, which is an outcome the President's been very clear on. As far as [19:00] Russia and China, we know exactly what they're doing, what they are or are not doing. We don't [19:04] have to air publicly what all of that is, but where necessary, we're addressing it, we're [19:09] mitigating it, and, or we're confronting it. So, I think that's a key point. [19:11] Or we're confronting it head-on. I don't know if you have anything you want to add. [19:14] No, sir. I think you covered it. [19:15] Not right here. [19:16] Do you have a timeline for operability in the strait? [19:18] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. David Zia, Real America's Voice. And I witnessed that [19:23] enthusiasm on the lines in our submarine builders and the ironworks. It's unbelievable. But I just [19:29] wanted to ask you, what's the status of the delivery of any hardened bunkers for additional [19:35] protection for our troops? And without getting too specific, what kind of measures are we taking to [19:40] protect some of the large-scale — [19:41] Well, it's a great, great question. I'll say what I witnessed where I went was a completely locked [19:53] in discipline of bunker use and bunker improvement. So, from the beginning, as we stated very clearly, [20:01] the first thing we did was set up a defense and make sure our defensive capabilities were maxed [20:05] out before any of this even started. That included fortifications as much as possible. But it also [20:10] included disbursement. If all of our defense capabilities were maxed out before any of this even [20:12] started, that included fortifications as much as possible. But it also included disbursement. If all [20:13] of our people are in one place, you could imagine why that's a big problem. So, [20:16] dispersing is part of that defeat. Alongside that, disbursement is more and more bunkers. And I can [20:22] tell you, talking to base commanders, talking to our allies in Israel, talking to others, [20:26] rapidly fielding that and then improving those positions is a theater of priority, no doubt, [20:31] as are the air defenses and the layered air defenses. It's not just Patriots and THAADs. It's [20:37] fighters and defensive caps. It's other kinetic defeat systems. It's electronic warfare. So, the [20:42] defense of our troops and our assets is maxed. I will say, on some of those other assets you [20:48] talked about, air wings, airframes, there's some things adversaries are doing to provide info and [20:54] intel that they shouldn't. We're aware of it. And ultimately, we move things around and don't. One [20:59] of the biggest principles you learn in the military is to not set patterns, predictable [21:05] patterns. And so, commanders are working hard to adjust in real time with those systems and make [21:11] sure they're in the right places and not easily targetable. [21:13] Thanks, Mr. Secretary. The U.S. and Iran appear right now publicly to [21:19] disagree about whether there are these negotiations ongoing. What impact does that [21:24] have on military strategy? Does it have any bearing at all? And, General, the President [21:30] wrote yesterday that the U.S. might destroy Iran's electricity-generating plants and oil [21:38] wells. Those are his words before ending this operation. Is there a way to do either of those [21:43] things without, like, seriously jeopardizing or seriously harming civilians? [21:50] So, on the talks, I can tell you, having been with Steve and Jared and the Vice President, [21:57] and Marco and many others yesterday, they are very real. They are ongoing. They're active. And, [22:03] I think, gaining strength. And we appreciate that. As I said in my remarks, we would much [22:08] prefer to get a deal. If Iran was willing to relinquish material they have and ambitions they [22:14] have, open this— [22:15] Great. That's the goal. We don't want to have to do more militarily than we have to. But I didn't [22:20] mean it flippantly when I said, in the meantime, we'll negotiate with bombs. Our job is to ensure [22:25] that we compel Iran to realize that this new regime, this regime in charge, is in a better [22:30] place if they make that deal. And so, we'll continue. We're working hand-in-hand, but the [22:35] primary effort is a deal. We want that deal to be accomplished, if at all possible. If not, then [22:40] we're prepared to continue. [22:41] Go ahead, Mr. Chairman. [22:44] Yeah. [22:45] Go ahead. [22:47] Thanks for the question. We're always thinking about those considerations and develop options [22:52] to be able to mitigate those risks pursuant to the normal practices that we do in the [22:57] military. So— [22:58] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I know you slightly addressed this already, but just on the Strait [23:02] of Hormuz, is opening the strait an essential objective to Operation Epic Fury, or is that [23:08] the job of those other countries? And then, secondly, without asking you to comment on [23:13] things that you can't talk about, what is your message to Americans who love the military, [23:16] who love the military, who love the military, who love the military, who love the military, [23:17] who love the president and strongly believe in him, but are very worried about this notion [23:21] of boots on the ground? [23:22] Well, first, on the Strait of Hormuz, our core objectives from this podium, from [23:29] day one, from me, from the chairman, from the president, from the vice president, from [23:34] Secretary Rubio and others have been clear. Defense missile production and missile programs, [23:39] so their entire missile program, defense industrial base and production ability to build, and [23:45] Navy and power projection. So those have been—and then, of course, wrapping it all is Iran's [23:49] never going to have a nuclear weapon. So those have been very clear. Defeating the [23:52] Navy is a core part of ensuring they can't project that kind of power. But ultimately, [23:56] I think the president's truth this morning lays that out very well, that this Strait [24:01] of Hormuz issue, which we've set the conditions for success, and we will make sure Iran knows [24:06] that very clearly, is not just a United States of America problem set. We've been willing [24:11] to lead. President Trump's led the entire time, but it's not just us. So ultimately, [24:16] I think other countries should pay attention when the president speaks. He's been very, [24:19] he's proven that when he speaks, he means something. And he's pointing out, you know, [24:24] might want to start learning how to fight for yourself. It's something some of us have [24:28] been saying for quite some time. You can't just have flags. You have to have formations. [24:32] You can't just have a few ships. You have enough to effect change. Those things matter [24:36] in a dangerous world with ascended adversaries. That's why the president—that's why the [24:40] chairman's talking about our industrial base. That's why we're launching the Arsenal of [24:44] Freedom tour to revive our defense industrial base. President Trump doing it in a way that [24:48] nobody else has. [24:49] As far as President Trump and boots on the ground, I don't understand why the base, which [24:56] they have already, they understand wouldn't have faith in his ability to execute on this. [25:00] Look at his track record of pursuing peace through strength, America first outcomes. [25:06] What he's simply saying, and it's exactly true, and I've said from this podium too, [25:10] we're not going to foreclose any option. You can't fight and win a war if you tell your [25:15] adversary what you are willing to do or what you are not willing to do, to include boots [25:19] on the ground. [25:20] Our adversary right now thinks there are 15 different ways we could come at them with [25:25] boots on the ground. And guess what? There are. So if we needed to, we could execute [25:29] those options on behalf of the President of the United States and this department. Or [25:34] maybe we don't have to use them at all. Maybe negotiations work. Or maybe there's a different [25:38] approach. The point is to be unpredictable in that. Certainly not let anybody know what [25:43] you're willing to do or not do. [25:44] But if anybody has internalized the lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan as the first one President Trump to call the base, [25:49] President Trump to call them out for what they are, he's not going to repeat those lessons. [25:53] And I think I've been very clear about that from the podium. [25:55] The Press Thank you, Secretary Hexeth. [25:57] A question for you and then a question for General Cain. [26:01] You said we're a month into the Operation Epic Fury. [26:04] How long until the objectives are achieved? [26:06] And is there a scenario where a deal is struck before the objectives have been achieved? [26:11] And then for General Cain, there's been lots of media coverage that suggested a ground invasion is imminent. [26:18] What other purposes? [26:19] Might the soldiers and the Marines who have been deployed over to the Middle East serve in this conflict? [26:26] General Cain Well, just like the previous question, it's sort of military 101. [26:31] Don't tell your enemy what you're willing to do or not do. [26:35] And don't tell your enemy when you're willing to stop, especially an enemy that likes to hide in bunkers and try to hoard their missiles and hope he'll wait you out. [26:42] So that's not a question I'm going to answer or or the president has said definitively. [26:47] We have our own goals and guidance and things were military objectives that we're moving toward and things that we look at. [26:51] And has he's articulated? [26:53] You know, he said four to six weeks, six to eight weeks, three. [26:57] It could be any any particular number, but we would never reveal precisely what it is because our goal is to finish those objectives. [27:04] And we're well on our way. [27:06] And the chairman and I look at this every single day. [27:08] It will be the president's determination and the president's determination alone when those objectives are complete and when it serves the interest of the American people to cut that deal, to make sure that Iran doesn't have any more. [27:20] Yeah. [27:21] nuclear capability, and ultimately that our objectives or our interests are advanced. I don't [27:27] know if you want to answer. No, just to answer your question, Reagan, you know, the range of [27:32] military options that those forces can offer are extensive, not just limited to what you mentioned [27:39] in terms of forces on the ground. And I wouldn't want to take away the president's decision space, [27:44] but there are a multitude of things, not the least of which is Iran should note that they're [27:50] out there and that they are a pressure point. And so they should carefully consider, I think, [27:56] at the diplomatic level, not my job as a chairman, but at the diplomatic level to consider what's in [28:02] front of them. Jerry. Okay. Mr. Secretary, the U.S. government, I see, says for many years that [28:12] Iran is protecting al-Qaeda senior leaders, including the current Amir Saif al-Adil. Does [28:19] the U.S. assess? [28:20] Does the U.S. assess that he's still in Iran as he fled to Afghanistan? Is he on a target list? And Mr. Chairman, based on CENTCOM figures and open source, Iranian daily missile barrages and drone launches have indeed dropped dramatically since the start of the war, but they're not at zero. And they seem to have maintained some level of low but stable numbers. Perhaps they've dropped a little bit more in recent days. [28:51] How do we get that closer to zero? And what impact is Iran's degraded but still very real capability impacting current and future operations? [29:05] So I won't speak to a particular target. I'll just say that al-Qaeda remains our enemy, obviously. And there are a lot of people on our target list in Iran. And if they were to be harboring al-Qaeda, they would certainly fit that list. [29:17] Just quickly, you know, the mobile targets that they have that [29:23] we continue to service, as the Secretary talked about, the 200 hits that were done last night, that's one component of continuing to lower that. The second and more long-term impact that we're having is the strikes against their defense industrial base at scale, which will not allow them to reload after that. So we do continue to see a trend down. They are still shooting, and we do continue to exert significant pressure against both sides of that system. [29:50] Thank you for your question. [29:53] Do you still believe... [29:54] You'd said previously that the Iranian leadership would surrender. Do you still believe that? And is the United States still committed to NATO's collective defense? And to Chairman King, could you give us a sense of your thinking about the legality of striking desalinization plans, if the President were to order that? [30:14] I would just say that any mission that ends on our terms, you can call it a surrender, call it a defeat, call it what you want. We remain committed to a conflict that ends on our terms and the President's terms. [30:25] There's no doubt about that. [30:26] And as far as NATO is concerned, that's a decision that will be left to the President, but I'll just say a lot has been laid bare. A lot has been shown to the world about what our allies would be willing to do for the United States of America when we undertake an effort of this scope on behalf of the free world. These are missiles that don't even range the United States of America. They range allies and others, and yet when we ask for additional assistance or simple access-facing and overflight, we get questions or roadblocks. [30:55] We get questions or roadblocks. [30:56] We get questions or roadblocks or hesitations. And the President's pointing out, you don't have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them. He's simply pointing that out, and ultimately it'll be his decision of what that looks like after this is completed. [31:10] I won't talk about any particular target. This really builds on Jillian's question, too, that I don't think I completely answered. But the joint force is the most professional force in the world, and we have numerous processes and systems to carefully consider the whole range of considerations. [31:26] We have numerous processes and systems to carefully consider the whole range of considerations. [31:27] From civilian risk to legal considerations with any target. And as targets come before us, we run them through the same process that we always do and always strike lawful targets in accordance with the normal procedures that we use. [31:27] From civilian risk to legal considerations with any target. And as targets come before us, we run them through the same process that we always do and always strike lawful targets in accordance with the normal procedures that we use. [31:28] From civilian risk to legal considerations with any target. And as targets come before us, we run them through the same process that we always do and always strike lawful targets in accordance with the normal procedures that we use. [31:28] From civilian risk to legal considerations with any target. And as targets come before us, we run them through the same process that we always do and always strike lawful targets in accordance with the normal procedures that we use. [31:29] considerations with any target. And as targets come before us, we run them through the same [31:35] process that we always do and always strike lawful targets in accordance with the normal [31:41] procedures that we use. [31:48] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Thank you. I appreciate it. On Sunday, President Trump said that Iran's [31:54] first regime was all destroyed and the second one is mostly dead. The third regime that we're on [31:59] right now has been much more reasonable in negotiations. Do you agree with that assessment [32:03] and why? I would defer to the negotiating team there. They're the ones talking to him, but they're [32:07] getting a back and forth on terms, which is a productive development. We stand right there [32:13] next to our negotiating team, always willing and prepared to put them in an even better position. [32:19] Thank you very much. Thank you.