Secy. Hegseth Details Iranian Military Impact and Casualties in Pentagon Briefing

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a Pentagon press briefing in which he outlined the current operations and effects on the Iranian Military, described damage assessments and casualty figures, and addressed recent incidents involving U. S. forces.

Iranian Military Capabilities and Targeting Claims

Hegseth said U. S. and allied strikes have sharply reduced Iran’s strike capacity, asserting that missile volume is down 90% and drones are down 95%. He also said more than 15, 000 enemy targets have been struck, an average exceeding 1, 000 strikes per day since the war began on Feb. 28. Hegseth described the operation’s impact in stark terms while noting the chaotic nature of war.

Civilian and Military Casualties, Plane Crash Update

Hegseth said Iranian drone attacks in retaliation have been deadly, including a fatal attack in Kuwait that killed six American soldiers. He acknowledged the crash of an American KC-135 refueling plane that was taking part in the operation. U. S. military says all six airmen in the refueling aircraft that crashed in Iraq are dead. Gen. Dan Caine said four airmen had been recovered in what he described as an incident over friendly territory in western Iraq that was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. U. S. Central Command said two aircraft had been involved, with one landing safely while the other went down.

Leadership Visibility in Tehran and Political Response

Hegseth said Iran’s leadership has been “desperate and hiding” following U. S. -Israeli strikes, a characterization echoed in remarks that labeled the behavior as what “rats do. ” Despite those claims, scenes from Tehran showed the country’s president and foreign minister joining Quds Day rallies. Hegseth also said Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded and “likely disfigured, ” noting that the younger Khamenei took over following his father’s death and has not been seen or heard publicly since the war started, which has driven speculation. Hegseth did not elaborate on or provide evidence about the new leader’s condition. He praised Vice President JD Vance as a “key voice” on Iran and called him “an incredible member, leader of this team. “

The briefing presented a mix of battlefield damage assessments, casualty updates and political messaging. Officials have signaled ongoing operations and the need to monitor both military developments and leadership movements closely as the situation continues to evolve.