WASHINGTON — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that Washington is preparing to launch its “largest strike package yet” on Iran, as military operations continue to expand.Speaking alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Hegseth said the US has already struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran and its military infrastructure, adding that operations are intensifying.“Our objective remains unchanged — to destroy Iran’s missiles, launchers, defense industrial base, and naval capabilities,” he said, declining to set a timeline for the end of the campaign.Hegseth said Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks on US forces have dropped by 90% since the start of the conflict, attributing the decline to sustained US strikes on key military assets.Caine said US forces are striking “deeper” into Iranian territory as part of Operation Epic Fury, including the use of 5,000-pound bunker-busting munitions against underground missile storage facilities.He added that US forces have targeted mine storage sites, naval ammunition depots, and more than 120 vessels and 44 minelayers, aiming to degrade Iran’s ability to project power beyond its borders.Despite the strikes, Caine noted that Iran still retains some missile capabilities.Hegseth also addressed reports of a potential $200 billion funding request for the war, saying costs could increase and stressing the need to secure adequate resources.“It takes money to kill bad guys,” he said, adding that the administration will work with Congress to ensure sufficient funding and replenish military stockpiles.
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