1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:10,584 Well , good morning . Uh , we just 3 00:00:10,584 --> 00:00:12,640 finished an update with Admiral Brad 4 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,751 Cooper , the CENTCOM commander across 5 00:00:14,751 --> 00:00:16,807 the CENTCOM AOR , our leadership and 6 00:00:16,807 --> 00:00:18,973 troops , as you would expect , doing a 7 00:00:18,973 --> 00:00:21,370 fantastic job . 2 days ago under the 8 00:00:21,370 --> 00:00:23,209 direction and direct orders of 9 00:00:23,209 --> 00:00:25,042 President Donald J . Trump , the 10 00:00:25,042 --> 00:00:27,098 Department of War launched Operation 11 00:00:27,098 --> 00:00:29,479 Epic Fury . The most lethal , most 12 00:00:29,479 --> 00:00:32,270 complex , and most precise aerial 13 00:00:32,270 --> 00:00:35,919 operation in history . For 47 long 14 00:00:35,919 --> 00:00:38,030 years , the expansionist and Islamist 15 00:00:38,030 --> 00:00:40,680 regime in Tehran has waged a savage 16 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:42,919 one-sided war against America . They 17 00:00:42,919 --> 00:00:44,979 didn't always declare it openly , 18 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:47,360 except for their constant chance of 19 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:49,527 death to America . They did it through 20 00:00:49,527 --> 00:00:52,159 the blood of our people . Car bombs in 21 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,150 Beirut , rocket attacks on our ships , 22 00:00:55,479 --> 00:00:57,479 murders at our embassies , roadside 23 00:00:57,479 --> 00:01:01,279 bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan , funded 24 00:01:01,279 --> 00:01:03,720 and armed by Iranian Quds Force and 25 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,290 IRGC killers . My generation 26 00:01:07,290 --> 00:01:10,230 of veterans carry the names of brothers 27 00:01:10,470 --> 00:01:12,550 who never came home . Brothers 28 00:01:12,550 --> 00:01:14,606 butchered by Iranian-backed roadside 29 00:01:14,606 --> 00:01:16,949 bombs and well-armed militias , 30 00:01:17,110 --> 00:01:21,089 thousands of our own . We didn't start 31 00:01:21,089 --> 00:01:24,010 this war , but under President Trump we 32 00:01:24,010 --> 00:01:26,989 are finishing it . Their war on 33 00:01:26,989 --> 00:01:29,209 Americans has become our retribution 34 00:01:29,750 --> 00:01:32,540 against their Ayatollah . And his death 35 00:01:32,540 --> 00:01:36,059 cult . It took the 47th president , a 36 00:01:36,059 --> 00:01:38,620 fighter who always puts America first , 37 00:01:38,940 --> 00:01:41,919 to finally draw the line after 47 years 38 00:01:42,180 --> 00:01:44,860 of Iranian belligerence . He reminded 39 00:01:44,860 --> 00:01:46,860 the world , as he has time and time 40 00:01:46,860 --> 00:01:48,779 again , being an American means 41 00:01:48,779 --> 00:01:51,580 something unbreakable . If you kill 42 00:01:51,580 --> 00:01:54,120 Americans , if you threaten Americans 43 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,176 anywhere on Earth , we will hunt you 44 00:01:56,176 --> 00:01:58,440 down without apology and without 45 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,559 hesitation , and we will kill you . 46 00:02:03,110 --> 00:02:05,054 President Trump has also been very 47 00:02:05,054 --> 00:02:07,800 consistent . Crazy regimes like Iran , 48 00:02:07,889 --> 00:02:10,130 hell bent on prophetic Islamist 49 00:02:10,130 --> 00:02:13,949 delusions cannot have nuclear weapons . 50 00:02:14,250 --> 00:02:17,089 It's common sense . Many have said it 51 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,071 But it takes guts to actually enforce 52 00:02:20,071 --> 00:02:21,960 it , and our president has guts . 53 00:02:23,270 --> 00:02:25,470 Iran's stubborn and self-evident 54 00:02:25,470 --> 00:02:27,581 nuclear pursuits , their targeting of 55 00:02:27,581 --> 00:02:29,470 global shipping lanes , and their 56 00:02:29,470 --> 00:02:31,637 swelling arsenal of ballistic missiles 57 00:02:31,637 --> 00:02:33,940 and killer drones were no longer , are 58 00:02:33,940 --> 00:02:37,029 no longer tolerable risks . Iran was 59 00:02:37,029 --> 00:02:40,190 building powerful missiles and drones 60 00:02:40,550 --> 00:02:42,789 to create a conventional shield for 61 00:02:42,789 --> 00:02:45,149 their nuclear blackmail ambitions . Let 62 00:02:45,149 --> 00:02:47,509 me say that again , a conventional 63 00:02:47,509 --> 00:02:50,429 shield for their nuclear blackmail 64 00:02:50,429 --> 00:02:53,580 ambitions . Our bases , our people , 65 00:02:53,660 --> 00:02:56,130 our allies , all in their crosshairs . 66 00:02:56,460 --> 00:02:59,119 Iran had a conventional gun to our head 67 00:02:59,419 --> 00:03:01,619 as they tried to lie their way to a 68 00:03:01,619 --> 00:03:05,199 nuclear bomb . It almost worked under 69 00:03:05,199 --> 00:03:08,160 Obama and his terrible deal , but not 70 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,929 under this president . Turns out the 71 00:03:10,929 --> 00:03:14,330 regime who chanted Death to America and 72 00:03:14,330 --> 00:03:17,949 death to Israel . Was gifted death 73 00:03:17,949 --> 00:03:21,089 from America and death from Israel . 74 00:03:21,990 --> 00:03:24,309 This is not a so-called regime change 75 00:03:24,309 --> 00:03:28,289 war . But the regime Sure did change . 76 00:03:29,199 --> 00:03:31,440 And the world is better off for it . 77 00:03:32,770 --> 00:03:34,937 Today in their desperation , the enemy 78 00:03:34,937 --> 00:03:37,830 is unmasked . As Iranian missiles and 79 00:03:37,830 --> 00:03:40,949 drones rained down indiscriminately on 80 00:03:40,949 --> 00:03:44,059 the hotels , airports , apartments , 81 00:03:44,190 --> 00:03:46,350 and other civilian targets of their 82 00:03:46,350 --> 00:03:49,369 neighbors , cowardly terrorist tactics 83 00:03:49,690 --> 00:03:52,309 for regi from a regime that for decades 84 00:03:52,309 --> 00:03:55,009 has trafficked in cowardly terrorist 85 00:03:55,110 --> 00:03:57,889 tactics , lies , death and destruction 86 00:03:58,259 --> 00:04:01,169 to this day . The Iranian leadership 87 00:04:01,169 --> 00:04:04,419 has built nothing . Except proxies and 88 00:04:04,419 --> 00:04:06,539 missiles and drones and deeply buried 89 00:04:06,539 --> 00:04:08,699 nuclear factories and facilities . 90 00:04:09,470 --> 00:04:12,029 Peaceful nuclear ambitions do not need 91 00:04:12,029 --> 00:04:14,669 to be buried underneath mountains . 92 00:04:16,309 --> 00:04:18,929 Last June , Operation Midnight Hammer 93 00:04:19,070 --> 00:04:21,140 obliterated their nuclear program to 94 00:04:21,140 --> 00:04:24,279 rubble . Afterward we told them plainly , 95 00:04:24,380 --> 00:04:26,480 that's it , now make a deal . They 96 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,160 arrogantly refused . We said , rebuild 97 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:31,399 it and we'll stop you again this time 98 00:04:31,399 --> 00:04:33,679 far worse . Well , President Trump , 99 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:36,540 Secretary Rubio , Steve Witkopf , Jared 100 00:04:36,540 --> 00:04:39,059 Kushner , they bent over backwards for 101 00:04:39,059 --> 00:04:41,380 real diplomacy , offering pathway after 102 00:04:41,380 --> 00:04:43,602 pathway to peace . I watched it . I was 103 00:04:43,602 --> 00:04:46,910 there . They tried over and over and 104 00:04:46,910 --> 00:04:49,510 over again earnest attempts at peace . 105 00:04:50,339 --> 00:04:52,820 The former regime had every chance to 106 00:04:52,820 --> 00:04:56,720 make a peaceful and sensible deal . But 107 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,100 Tehran was not negotiating . They were 108 00:04:59,100 --> 00:05:01,890 stalling Buying time to reload their 109 00:05:01,890 --> 00:05:04,160 missile stockpiles and restart their 110 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,089 nuclear ambitions . Their goal hold us 111 00:05:07,089 --> 00:05:09,929 hostage , threatening to strike our 112 00:05:09,929 --> 00:05:13,320 forces . Well . President Trump doesn't 113 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,959 play those games . And as Secretary 114 00:05:15,959 --> 00:05:18,440 Rubio said after the Maduro raid , if 115 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:20,600 you don't know , now you know . 116 00:05:21,570 --> 00:05:24,049 President Trump puts America and 117 00:05:24,049 --> 00:05:26,730 Americans first . He doesn't hesitate 118 00:05:26,730 --> 00:05:29,290 and neither do our troops . The mission 119 00:05:29,290 --> 00:05:32,549 of Operation Epic Fury is laser focused . 120 00:05:33,010 --> 00:05:35,066 Destroy Iranian offensive missiles , 121 00:05:35,066 --> 00:05:37,121 destroy Iranian missile production , 122 00:05:37,121 --> 00:05:39,232 destroy their navy and other security 123 00:05:39,232 --> 00:05:41,288 infrastructure , and they will never 124 00:05:41,288 --> 00:05:44,450 have nuclear weapons . We're hitting 125 00:05:44,450 --> 00:05:47,260 them surgically , overwhelmingly and 126 00:05:47,260 --> 00:05:51,260 unapologetically . With every passing 127 00:05:51,260 --> 00:05:53,482 day , our capabilities get stronger and 128 00:05:53,482 --> 00:05:57,380 Iran's get weaker . We set the terms of 129 00:05:57,380 --> 00:06:00,820 this war from start to finish . Our 130 00:06:00,820 --> 00:06:03,859 ambitions are not utopian . They are 131 00:06:03,859 --> 00:06:06,859 realistic , scoped to our interests and 132 00:06:06,859 --> 00:06:09,179 the defense of our people and our 133 00:06:09,179 --> 00:06:12,359 allies . Speaking of people . 134 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:15,218 We hope the Iranian people take 135 00:06:15,218 --> 00:06:16,839 advantage of this incredible 136 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,006 opportunity . President Trump has been 137 00:06:19,006 --> 00:06:22,989 clear , now is your time . To 138 00:06:22,989 --> 00:06:24,980 Iranian Iranian security forces . 139 00:06:25,940 --> 00:06:29,500 Choose wisely . President Trump has 140 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:32,790 also been clear about your fate in 141 00:06:32,790 --> 00:06:36,500 either direction . To the media 142 00:06:36,500 --> 00:06:38,556 outlets and political left screaming 143 00:06:38,556 --> 00:06:41,940 endless wars , stop . This is not Iraq 144 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,760 This is not endless . I was there for 145 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,519 both . Our generation knows better and 146 00:06:48,519 --> 00:06:51,459 so does this president . He called the 147 00:06:51,459 --> 00:06:53,570 last 20 years of nation building wars 148 00:06:53,570 --> 00:06:57,429 dumb . And he's right . This is the 149 00:06:57,429 --> 00:07:00,660 opposite . This operation is a clear , 150 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,359 devastating , decisive mission . 151 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:05,656 Destroy the missile threat . Destroy 152 00:07:05,656 --> 00:07:09,019 the navy . No nukes . Israel has clear 153 00:07:09,019 --> 00:07:11,619 missions as well for which we are 154 00:07:11,619 --> 00:07:15,049 grateful . Capable partners , as we've 155 00:07:15,049 --> 00:07:17,130 said since the beginning , capable 156 00:07:17,130 --> 00:07:20,230 partners are good partners . Unlike so 157 00:07:20,230 --> 00:07:22,549 many of our traditional allies who 158 00:07:22,549 --> 00:07:24,493 wring their hands and clutch their 159 00:07:24,493 --> 00:07:26,869 pearls , hemming and hawing about the 160 00:07:26,869 --> 00:07:30,589 use of force . America , regardless of 161 00:07:30,589 --> 00:07:32,410 what so-called international 162 00:07:32,410 --> 00:07:34,466 institutions say , is unleashing the 163 00:07:34,466 --> 00:07:36,390 most lethal and precise air power 164 00:07:36,390 --> 00:07:39,609 campaign in history . B-twos , fighters , 165 00:07:39,690 --> 00:07:41,690 drones , missiles , and of course , 166 00:07:42,049 --> 00:07:45,790 classified effects . All on 167 00:07:45,790 --> 00:07:48,519 our terms . With maximum authorities , 168 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,664 no stupid rules of engagement , no 169 00:07:50,664 --> 00:07:52,887 nation building quagmire , no democracy 170 00:07:52,887 --> 00:07:55,480 building exercise , no politically 171 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,440 correct wars . We fight to win and we 172 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,320 don't waste time . Or lives . As the 173 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,376 president warned , an effort of this 174 00:08:04,376 --> 00:08:08,359 scope will include casualties . War 175 00:08:08,359 --> 00:08:12,250 is hell and always will be . A 176 00:08:12,250 --> 00:08:14,140 grateful nation honors the four 177 00:08:14,140 --> 00:08:16,140 Americans we have lost thus far and 178 00:08:16,140 --> 00:08:20,100 those injured . The absolute best of 179 00:08:20,109 --> 00:08:23,779 America . May we prosecute the 180 00:08:23,779 --> 00:08:26,001 remainder of this operation in a manner 181 00:08:26,001 --> 00:08:29,119 that honors them . No apologies . 182 00:08:29,970 --> 00:08:33,450 No hesitation Epic fury 183 00:08:34,169 --> 00:08:36,969 for them and the thousands of Americans 184 00:08:36,969 --> 00:08:40,250 before them taken too soon by Iranian 185 00:08:40,250 --> 00:08:43,080 radicals . Before I turn it over to 186 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,413 General Kane for the operational update , 187 00:08:45,413 --> 00:08:47,719 let me speak straight to you , the 188 00:08:47,719 --> 00:08:50,630 joint force , our warriors on the front 189 00:08:50,630 --> 00:08:54,369 lines . This is your moment . This is 190 00:08:54,369 --> 00:08:56,536 the generational turning point America 191 00:08:56,536 --> 00:08:58,758 has waited for since 1979 and since the 192 00:08:58,758 --> 00:09:01,049 rudderless wars of hubris , my 193 00:09:01,049 --> 00:09:03,160 generation , our generation endured . 194 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:05,900 Don't listen to the noise . Just stay 195 00:09:05,900 --> 00:09:08,140 focused . Our commander in chief is 196 00:09:08,140 --> 00:09:11,229 steady at the wheel . We face a 197 00:09:11,229 --> 00:09:13,549 determined enemy , but you are better . 198 00:09:14,690 --> 00:09:16,912 But we must prove it every single day . 199 00:09:16,912 --> 00:09:19,023 History doesn't care if we're tired , 200 00:09:19,023 --> 00:09:21,246 if we're scared , or if the fight feels 201 00:09:21,246 --> 00:09:23,530 big . It demands warriors who rise 202 00:09:23,530 --> 00:09:26,919 anyway . Peace through strength , the 203 00:09:26,919 --> 00:09:29,799 warrior ethos , lethality , unity of 204 00:09:29,799 --> 00:09:32,039 purpose , those are not slogans . 205 00:09:32,859 --> 00:09:35,179 They're the beating heart Of what it 206 00:09:35,179 --> 00:09:37,012 means to wear the uniform , that 207 00:09:37,012 --> 00:09:40,219 uniform . You think clearly under fire , 208 00:09:40,270 --> 00:09:42,549 you act decisively in chaos . You 209 00:09:42,549 --> 00:09:45,039 uphold the Constitution . And you 210 00:09:45,039 --> 00:09:47,261 uphold our country without hesitation . 211 00:09:48,159 --> 00:09:51,650 We are not defenders anymore . We are 212 00:09:51,659 --> 00:09:53,960 warriors . Trained to kill the enemy 213 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,849 and break their will . History is 214 00:09:55,849 --> 00:09:58,140 watching , be the force you swore an 215 00:09:58,140 --> 00:10:00,989 oath to be focused , disciplined , 216 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,619 lethal , and unbreakable . 217 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,950 We will finish this On America first 218 00:10:08,950 --> 00:10:11,000 conditions of President Trump's 219 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,500 choosing , nobody else's . As it should 220 00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:16,690 be . And know this above all , 221 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,789 President Trump and I have your back , 222 00:10:20,169 --> 00:10:23,469 always . Through fire , through 223 00:10:23,469 --> 00:10:27,150 criticism , through fake news , through 224 00:10:27,150 --> 00:10:29,372 everything , we unleash you because you 225 00:10:29,372 --> 00:10:32,309 are the best , most powerful , most 226 00:10:32,309 --> 00:10:34,630 lethal fighting force the world has 227 00:10:34,630 --> 00:10:38,369 ever seen . May Almighty 228 00:10:38,369 --> 00:10:41,440 God watch over you . And his 229 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,820 providential arms of protection extend 230 00:10:44,979 --> 00:10:48,630 over you . Godspeed warriors and keep 231 00:10:48,630 --> 00:10:51,000 going . General Kane , over to you . 232 00:10:51,210 --> 00:10:53,432 Thank you , Mr . Secretary , and , uh , 233 00:10:53,432 --> 00:10:55,543 good morning , everyone . The purpose 234 00:10:55,543 --> 00:10:57,710 of my portion of the briefing today is 235 00:10:57,710 --> 00:10:59,821 to update you and the American people 236 00:10:59,821 --> 00:11:01,821 on the actions taken thus far . The 237 00:11:01,821 --> 00:11:04,043 briefing will discuss the preparation , 238 00:11:04,043 --> 00:11:06,210 the planning , setting the force , the 239 00:11:06,210 --> 00:11:08,043 early operations , and how we're 240 00:11:08,043 --> 00:11:10,210 assessing the progress thus far . Uh , 241 00:11:10,229 --> 00:11:12,289 so let's get started . On Saturday , 242 00:11:12,710 --> 00:11:16,640 28th February at 01:15 243 00:11:16,750 --> 00:11:19,869 Eastern Standard Time , 9:45 a.m. local 244 00:11:19,869 --> 00:11:21,813 Tehran time , on the orders of the 245 00:11:21,813 --> 00:11:23,813 President of the United States , US 246 00:11:23,813 --> 00:11:25,869 Central Command under the command of 247 00:11:25,869 --> 00:11:28,036 United States Navy Admiral Brad Cooper 248 00:11:28,036 --> 00:11:30,710 commenced Operation Epic Fury . As I 249 00:11:30,710 --> 00:11:32,821 said , I'm gonna walk you through the 250 00:11:32,821 --> 00:11:34,932 initial phases of the operation . But 251 00:11:34,932 --> 00:11:36,729 first I want to express my deep 252 00:11:36,729 --> 00:11:39,210 condolences and the condolences of the 253 00:11:39,210 --> 00:11:41,570 joint force to the Department of War 254 00:11:41,570 --> 00:11:44,090 personnel killed and wounded in action 255 00:11:44,090 --> 00:11:46,369 thus far . As the Secretary said , 256 00:11:46,450 --> 00:11:48,650 they're heroes and represent the best 257 00:11:48,650 --> 00:11:51,130 of our nation has to offer . They're 258 00:11:51,130 --> 00:11:53,609 true examples of what selfless service 259 00:11:53,609 --> 00:11:55,650 means . Our deepest and heartfelt 260 00:11:55,650 --> 00:11:57,761 condolences are with their families , 261 00:11:58,010 --> 00:12:00,210 their friends , and their units . We 262 00:12:00,210 --> 00:12:02,099 grieve with you and we will never 263 00:12:02,099 --> 00:12:04,419 forget you . Additionally , I stand 264 00:12:04,419 --> 00:12:06,700 here before you today grateful for each 265 00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:08,978 service member , planner , logistician , 266 00:12:08,978 --> 00:12:11,450 operator across our joint force , for 267 00:12:11,450 --> 00:12:13,561 our Department of War civilians , our 268 00:12:13,561 --> 00:12:15,859 intelligence community teammates , our 269 00:12:15,859 --> 00:12:18,659 interagency teammates who continue to 270 00:12:18,659 --> 00:12:22,140 stand in harm's way alongside us . I am 271 00:12:22,140 --> 00:12:24,140 proud of all of you as you take the 272 00:12:24,140 --> 00:12:26,140 fight to the enemy , and we are the 273 00:12:26,140 --> 00:12:28,084 best in the world at integrating , 274 00:12:28,109 --> 00:12:31,070 period . I want to extend my personal 275 00:12:31,070 --> 00:12:34,340 gratitude to the dedicated commanders 276 00:12:34,530 --> 00:12:36,650 and senior enlisted leaders and the 277 00:12:36,650 --> 00:12:39,130 enlisted members of the joint force who 278 00:12:39,130 --> 00:12:41,074 are fighting this fight across the 279 00:12:41,074 --> 00:12:43,650 CENCOMAOR . In addition to Admiral 280 00:12:43,650 --> 00:12:46,570 Cooper and Fleet Master Chief Compton , 281 00:12:46,820 --> 00:12:49,409 I want to highlight a few today . US 282 00:12:49,409 --> 00:12:51,242 Army Central Command Commander , 283 00:12:51,242 --> 00:12:53,500 Lieutenant General Pat Frank , who 284 00:12:53,500 --> 00:12:55,570 along with his team are fighting the 285 00:12:55,570 --> 00:12:57,903 counter missile and counter drone fight . 286 00:12:58,510 --> 00:13:01,260 United States Navy Central Command 287 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,039 Commander Vice Admiral Kurt Renshaw and 288 00:13:04,039 --> 00:13:06,039 his team , who are engaged with the 289 00:13:06,039 --> 00:13:08,919 Iranian Navy in projecting American 290 00:13:08,919 --> 00:13:12,200 naval combat power from the seas , and 291 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,422 United States Air Force Central Command 292 00:13:14,422 --> 00:13:16,367 commander Lieutenant General Derek 293 00:13:16,367 --> 00:13:19,159 France and his leadership team who are 294 00:13:19,159 --> 00:13:21,381 crushing Iranian targets from the air . 295 00:13:21,950 --> 00:13:24,117 I want to highlight the support to the 296 00:13:24,117 --> 00:13:26,179 CENTCOM fight from other combatant 297 00:13:26,179 --> 00:13:28,401 commands who are directly involved with 298 00:13:28,401 --> 00:13:31,510 this effort to include US SpaceCom , US 299 00:13:31,510 --> 00:13:35,500 CyberCom , and US UCO . I also wanna 300 00:13:35,500 --> 00:13:38,260 specifically call out United States 301 00:13:38,260 --> 00:13:40,590 Transportation Command and US StratCom 302 00:13:41,260 --> 00:13:43,482 for their contributions to this fight . 303 00:13:43,900 --> 00:13:47,099 We cannot project American combat power 304 00:13:47,099 --> 00:13:49,210 at the time and place of our choosing 305 00:13:49,210 --> 00:13:51,780 without both . And finally I want to 306 00:13:51,780 --> 00:13:53,950 express how deeply thankful I am for 307 00:13:53,950 --> 00:13:56,659 the continued service and sacrifice of 308 00:13:56,659 --> 00:13:58,979 the entire joint force and their 309 00:13:58,979 --> 00:14:01,979 families . Their unwavering commitment 310 00:14:01,979 --> 00:14:04,580 and dedication are the cornerstones of 311 00:14:04,580 --> 00:14:07,500 this effort . So let me start with a 312 00:14:07,500 --> 00:14:10,500 few details . First , to be clear , as 313 00:14:10,500 --> 00:14:12,739 the secretary said , this is not a 314 00:14:12,739 --> 00:14:15,260 single overnight operation . The 315 00:14:15,260 --> 00:14:17,460 military objectives that CENTCOM and 316 00:14:17,460 --> 00:14:19,571 the Joint Force have been tasked with 317 00:14:19,571 --> 00:14:21,900 will take some time to achieve and in 318 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:24,659 some cases will be difficult and gritty 319 00:14:24,659 --> 00:14:27,380 work . We expect to take additional 320 00:14:27,380 --> 00:14:30,500 losses and as always we will work to 321 00:14:30,500 --> 00:14:33,380 minimize US losses , but as the 322 00:14:33,380 --> 00:14:36,380 secretary said , this is major combat 323 00:14:36,380 --> 00:14:38,580 operations . So let me talk about the 324 00:14:38,580 --> 00:14:41,090 preparation and the planning . On 325 00:14:41,090 --> 00:14:43,500 February 28th , the full strength of 326 00:14:43,500 --> 00:14:45,722 America's armed forces came together in 327 00:14:45,722 --> 00:14:48,460 a unified purpose against a capable and 328 00:14:48,460 --> 00:14:50,700 determined adversary . The United 329 00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:53,940 States Army , Navy , Marine Corps , Air 330 00:14:53,940 --> 00:14:56,500 Force , Space Force , Coast Guard , and 331 00:14:56,500 --> 00:14:58,700 our reserve components integrated 332 00:14:58,700 --> 00:15:01,859 across our combatant commands and began 333 00:15:01,859 --> 00:15:04,500 coordinated operations with the Israeli 334 00:15:04,500 --> 00:15:07,020 Armed Forces of an unprecedented scale . 335 00:15:07,679 --> 00:15:09,457 As the secretary laid out , our 336 00:15:09,457 --> 00:15:11,599 military objectives are clear . Our 337 00:15:11,599 --> 00:15:13,530 mission is to protect and defend 338 00:15:13,530 --> 00:15:15,308 ourselves and together with our 339 00:15:15,308 --> 00:15:18,270 regional partners , prevent Iran from 340 00:15:18,650 --> 00:15:21,289 the ability to project power outside of 341 00:15:21,289 --> 00:15:24,039 its borders and be ready for follow-on 342 00:15:24,039 --> 00:15:27,049 actions as appropriate across every 343 00:15:27,049 --> 00:15:29,830 domain land , air , sea , cyber , the 344 00:15:29,830 --> 00:15:32,190 US Joint Force delivered synchronized 345 00:15:32,409 --> 00:15:34,849 and layered effects designed to disrupt . 346 00:15:35,309 --> 00:15:38,669 Degrade , deny , and destroy Iran's 347 00:15:38,669 --> 00:15:41,710 ability to conduct and sustain combat 348 00:15:41,710 --> 00:15:45,039 operations on the US side . This marked 349 00:15:45,039 --> 00:15:47,880 the culmination of months and in some 350 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,559 cases years of deliberate planning and 351 00:15:50,559 --> 00:15:52,760 refinement against this particular 352 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,619 target set . From precision strikes 353 00:15:55,619 --> 00:15:58,099 against key military infrastructure to 354 00:15:58,099 --> 00:16:00,700 persistent intelligence and targeting 355 00:16:00,700 --> 00:16:03,520 integration to the close coordination 356 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,450 of the components across vast distances , 357 00:16:06,739 --> 00:16:09,820 this operation again demonstrated 358 00:16:09,820 --> 00:16:11,780 America's reach , readiness , and 359 00:16:11,780 --> 00:16:14,130 professionalism and that of our joint 360 00:16:14,130 --> 00:16:17,299 united force . It was historic not only 361 00:16:17,299 --> 00:16:19,599 in the operational scope , but in the 362 00:16:19,599 --> 00:16:22,469 level of joint integration displayed 363 00:16:22,469 --> 00:16:25,500 across every element of the joint force . 364 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:27,896 And as I said earlier , this work is 365 00:16:27,896 --> 00:16:30,590 just beginning and will continue . So 366 00:16:30,590 --> 00:16:32,757 now to talk a little bit about setting 367 00:16:32,757 --> 00:16:35,369 the force and setting the theater on 368 00:16:35,369 --> 00:16:37,536 the order of the Secretary of War over 369 00:16:37,536 --> 00:16:39,489 the last 30 days to reinforce 370 00:16:39,489 --> 00:16:41,849 deterrence and provide the President 371 00:16:41,849 --> 00:16:44,729 with credible options should action be 372 00:16:44,729 --> 00:16:47,010 required , the joint force began to 373 00:16:47,010 --> 00:16:49,489 systematically reposition assets and 374 00:16:49,489 --> 00:16:52,609 personnel across the region . These 375 00:16:52,609 --> 00:16:55,169 movements ensured that US forces 376 00:16:55,169 --> 00:16:58,250 remained postured , protected , and 377 00:16:58,250 --> 00:17:01,210 ready to respond decisively for any 378 00:17:01,210 --> 00:17:03,880 emerging threat . This deployment 379 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:05,991 included thousands of service members 380 00:17:05,991 --> 00:17:07,770 from all branches , hundreds of 381 00:17:07,770 --> 00:17:10,010 advanced 4th and 5th generation 382 00:17:10,010 --> 00:17:12,390 fighters , dozens of refueling tankers , 383 00:17:12,650 --> 00:17:14,969 the Lincoln and Ford carrier strike 384 00:17:14,969 --> 00:17:17,189 group , and their embarked air wings 385 00:17:17,369 --> 00:17:19,675 sustained . Flow of munitions , fuel , 386 00:17:19,744 --> 00:17:22,194 supplies , all supported with command 387 00:17:22,194 --> 00:17:23,805 and control , intelligence , 388 00:17:23,805 --> 00:17:26,138 surveillance and reconnaissance network , 389 00:17:26,138 --> 00:17:28,775 and the flow of forces continues today . 390 00:17:29,035 --> 00:17:31,146 In fact , Admiral Cooper will receive 391 00:17:31,146 --> 00:17:33,755 additional forces even today . This 392 00:17:33,755 --> 00:17:36,535 rapid buildup of forces demonstrated 393 00:17:36,915 --> 00:17:39,994 the joint forces' ability to adapt and 394 00:17:39,994 --> 00:17:42,161 project power at the time and place of 395 00:17:42,161 --> 00:17:44,050 our nation's choosing . I want to 396 00:17:44,050 --> 00:17:46,161 highlight a couple specific cases for 397 00:17:46,161 --> 00:17:48,069 you . The Gerald R . Ford carrier 398 00:17:48,069 --> 00:17:50,180 strike group , which many of you know 399 00:17:50,180 --> 00:17:52,236 was down in the Western Hemisphere , 400 00:17:52,236 --> 00:17:55,150 redeployed across the Atlantic to set 401 00:17:55,150 --> 00:17:57,790 the theater . The ship , her crew , 402 00:17:57,949 --> 00:18:00,116 their families , and the entire strike 403 00:18:00,116 --> 00:18:02,380 group took a deep breath and , as they 404 00:18:02,380 --> 00:18:05,589 always do , began planning to conduct 405 00:18:05,589 --> 00:18:08,510 combat operations . The integrated 406 00:18:08,510 --> 00:18:11,300 reserve and National Guard forces have 407 00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:13,900 continued to demonstrate the value of 408 00:18:13,900 --> 00:18:15,956 America's reserve forces , including 409 00:18:15,956 --> 00:18:18,119 the Wisconsin Army National Guard 410 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,459 operating in Kuwait and Iraq , and Air 411 00:18:20,459 --> 00:18:23,140 National Guard units from a variety of 412 00:18:23,140 --> 00:18:25,660 states to include Vermont and Virginia . 413 00:18:26,260 --> 00:18:28,482 In the case of the Vermont Air National 414 00:18:28,482 --> 00:18:31,020 Guard and the 158th Fighter Wing , they 415 00:18:31,020 --> 00:18:33,420 were mobilized for Operation Absolute 416 00:18:33,420 --> 00:18:35,699 Resolve and then were tasked to take 417 00:18:35,699 --> 00:18:38,979 their F-35A's across the Atlantic 418 00:18:38,979 --> 00:18:41,201 instead of going home to be prepared to 419 00:18:41,201 --> 00:18:43,619 support this operation . The same is 420 00:18:43,619 --> 00:18:45,619 with our Air National Guard and Air 421 00:18:45,619 --> 00:18:47,452 Force Reserve Command tanker and 422 00:18:47,452 --> 00:18:49,563 mobility forces who stepped right out 423 00:18:49,563 --> 00:18:52,540 of their civilian jobs to deploy and to 424 00:18:52,540 --> 00:18:55,989 protect the region . Lastly , I want to 425 00:18:55,989 --> 00:18:58,729 highlight the unsung heroes of warfare , 426 00:18:59,020 --> 00:19:00,989 our American logisticians and 427 00:19:00,989 --> 00:19:03,949 sustainment Force , those who quietly 428 00:19:03,949 --> 00:19:07,069 work every day behind the scenes to 429 00:19:07,069 --> 00:19:10,030 project and sustain America's combat 430 00:19:10,030 --> 00:19:12,670 power . Our leaders from World War II 431 00:19:12,670 --> 00:19:14,892 were right when they said professionals 432 00:19:14,892 --> 00:19:17,359 do logistics . As regional tensions 433 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:19,589 rose , the joint force elevated our 434 00:19:19,589 --> 00:19:21,756 force protection measures on the order 435 00:19:21,756 --> 00:19:24,140 of the Secretary . And repositioned 436 00:19:24,140 --> 00:19:26,459 discreetly civilians and nonessential 437 00:19:26,459 --> 00:19:29,000 personnel designed to ensure the safety 438 00:19:29,339 --> 00:19:31,849 and security of our joint force . By 439 00:19:31,849 --> 00:19:34,140 the time operations began , only 440 00:19:34,140 --> 00:19:36,307 essential forces remained on our bases 441 00:19:36,307 --> 00:19:39,540 and in theater , already capable to 442 00:19:39,540 --> 00:19:42,849 respond . So now let me move to HR . 443 00:19:44,189 --> 00:19:47,660 At 1:15:38 , 3:38 p.m. 444 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,520 on Friday , February 27th , the United 445 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:53,464 States Central Command through the 446 00:19:53,464 --> 00:19:55,800 Secretary of War received the final go 447 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,959 order from President Trump . The 448 00:19:57,959 --> 00:19:59,903 president directed , and I quote , 449 00:19:59,903 --> 00:20:02,160 Operation Epic Fury is approved , no 450 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,660 aborts , good luck , close quote . In 451 00:20:05,660 --> 00:20:07,882 the region , every element of the joint 452 00:20:07,882 --> 00:20:09,993 force made their final preparations . 453 00:20:09,993 --> 00:20:11,780 Air defense batteries readied 454 00:20:11,780 --> 00:20:13,979 themselves , checking their systems to 455 00:20:13,979 --> 00:20:16,739 respond to Iranian attacks . Pilots and 456 00:20:16,739 --> 00:20:18,850 crews rehearsed their strike packages 457 00:20:18,850 --> 00:20:20,906 for the final time . Air crews began 458 00:20:20,906 --> 00:20:23,339 loading their final weapons , and two 459 00:20:23,339 --> 00:20:25,339 carrier strike groups began to move 460 00:20:25,339 --> 00:20:27,579 towards their launching points . Across 461 00:20:27,579 --> 00:20:29,746 the globe . Our operation centers came 462 00:20:29,746 --> 00:20:31,912 alive in Tampa , Florida , here at the 463 00:20:31,912 --> 00:20:34,135 Pentagon , and of course forward in the 464 00:20:34,135 --> 00:20:37,040 Central Command AR . As always , 465 00:20:37,939 --> 00:20:41,099 operational security was paramount as 466 00:20:41,099 --> 00:20:44,119 we sought to maintain and sustain the 467 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:46,540 element of surprise . This operation 468 00:20:46,540 --> 00:20:48,651 was highly classified so that at each 469 00:20:48,651 --> 00:20:50,739 hour , uh , the enemy would see one 470 00:20:50,739 --> 00:20:53,380 thing speed , surprise , and violence 471 00:20:53,380 --> 00:20:56,170 of action . The first movers were US 472 00:20:56,170 --> 00:20:59,280 CyberCom and US SpaceCom , layering 473 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,729 non-kinetic effects , disrupting and 474 00:21:01,729 --> 00:21:04,130 degrading and blinding Iran's ability 475 00:21:04,130 --> 00:21:07,880 to see , communicate , and respond . At 476 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:09,920 each hour , the beginning of major 477 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,849 combat operations , 0 1:15 478 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,599 local Eastern Daylight Time , 9:45 479 00:21:17,599 --> 00:21:20,780 local AM Tehran time as dawn crept up 480 00:21:21,079 --> 00:21:23,395 across the Central Command AOR . The 481 00:21:23,395 --> 00:21:26,035 skies surged to life . More than 100 482 00:21:26,035 --> 00:21:28,155 aircraft launched from land , sea , 483 00:21:28,354 --> 00:21:30,354 fighters , tankers , airborne early 484 00:21:30,354 --> 00:21:32,875 warning , electronic attack , bombers 485 00:21:32,875 --> 00:21:34,597 from the states , and unmanned 486 00:21:34,597 --> 00:21:37,834 platforms forming a single synchronized 487 00:21:37,834 --> 00:21:41,155 wave . This was a daylight strike based 488 00:21:41,155 --> 00:21:43,635 on a trigger event conducted by the 489 00:21:43,635 --> 00:21:46,505 Israeli Defense Forces enabled by the 490 00:21:46,505 --> 00:21:49,219 US intelligence community . The first 491 00:21:49,219 --> 00:21:51,040 shooters at sea were tomahawks 492 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,151 unleashed by the United States Navy , 493 00:21:53,660 --> 00:21:56,170 closed in on Iranian naval forces , and 494 00:21:56,170 --> 00:21:58,540 began to conduct strikes across the 495 00:21:58,540 --> 00:22:01,420 southern flank in Iran . On the ground , 496 00:22:01,579 --> 00:22:04,650 forces fired precision standoff weapons , 497 00:22:04,900 --> 00:22:07,459 measured , deliberate , precise , and 498 00:22:07,459 --> 00:22:09,709 lethal . This was a massive , 499 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,550 overwhelming attack across all domains 500 00:22:12,550 --> 00:22:15,000 of warfare , striking more than 1000 501 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,170 targets in the 1st 24 hours . We are 502 00:22:18,170 --> 00:22:21,969 now roughly 57 hours into the 503 00:22:21,969 --> 00:22:23,913 operation . In the initial phase , 504 00:22:23,969 --> 00:22:26,689 CEO's focus was systematic targeting of 505 00:22:26,689 --> 00:22:28,430 Iranians command and control 506 00:22:28,599 --> 00:22:31,130 infrastructure , naval forces , 507 00:22:31,479 --> 00:22:33,569 ballistic missile sites , and 508 00:22:33,569 --> 00:22:35,869 intelligence infrastructure designed to 509 00:22:35,869 --> 00:22:39,449 daze and confuse them . Coordinated 510 00:22:39,449 --> 00:22:42,569 space and cyber operations effectively 511 00:22:42,569 --> 00:22:45,369 disrupted communications and sensor 512 00:22:45,369 --> 00:22:46,925 networks across the area of 513 00:22:46,925 --> 00:22:49,810 responsibility , leaving the adversary 514 00:22:49,810 --> 00:22:52,569 without the ability to see , coordinate , 515 00:22:52,579 --> 00:22:55,530 or respond effectively . The combined 516 00:22:55,530 --> 00:22:57,419 impact of these strikes , swift , 517 00:22:57,419 --> 00:22:59,410 precise , and overwhelming , has 518 00:22:59,410 --> 00:23:01,577 resulted in the establishment of local 519 00:23:01,577 --> 00:23:04,579 air superiority . This air superiority 520 00:23:04,579 --> 00:23:06,801 will not only enhance the protection of 521 00:23:06,801 --> 00:23:09,339 our forces but also allow them to 522 00:23:09,339 --> 00:23:12,599 continue the work over Iran . Over the 523 00:23:12,599 --> 00:23:14,710 course of the last 2 days , the joint 524 00:23:14,710 --> 00:23:16,932 force has launched hundreds of missions 525 00:23:16,932 --> 00:23:19,599 from land and sea and delivered tens of 526 00:23:19,599 --> 00:23:21,959 thousands of pieces of ordnance . The 527 00:23:21,959 --> 00:23:24,760 effort continues to scale . This 528 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,359 included American B-2 bombers which 529 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:29,719 again similar to Midnight Hammer flew a 530 00:23:29,719 --> 00:23:32,479 37 hour round trip sortie from the 531 00:23:32,479 --> 00:23:34,760 continental United States , dropping 532 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,800 precision penetrating munitions on 533 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,420 Iranian underground facilities across 534 00:23:40,420 --> 00:23:43,260 the southern flank and slightly deeper . 535 00:23:43,810 --> 00:23:45,930 Additionally , Israel has separately 536 00:23:45,930 --> 00:23:48,359 executed hundreds of sorties against 537 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,760 hundreds of targets . Beyond Air Force 538 00:23:51,939 --> 00:23:54,300 and Navy aircraft strike packages , 539 00:23:54,459 --> 00:23:56,459 coordinated salvos of precision 540 00:23:56,459 --> 00:23:58,979 standoff weapons from across the region 541 00:23:59,219 --> 00:24:00,830 have neutralized hundreds of 542 00:24:00,830 --> 00:24:03,260 pre-planned targets . As I mentioned 543 00:24:03,260 --> 00:24:05,204 earlier , uh , in support of these 544 00:24:05,204 --> 00:24:07,540 kinetic operations , US CyberCom and 545 00:24:07,540 --> 00:24:10,300 SpaceCom have continuously layered 546 00:24:10,300 --> 00:24:12,859 effects to disrupt , disorient , and 547 00:24:12,859 --> 00:24:15,660 confuse the enemy . I will note that 548 00:24:15,660 --> 00:24:18,890 this operation had several combat 549 00:24:18,890 --> 00:24:21,140 firsts , which I'll allow at some point 550 00:24:21,140 --> 00:24:23,307 in the future , Admiral Cooper to talk 551 00:24:23,307 --> 00:24:26,930 about since he owns the AOR . While 552 00:24:26,930 --> 00:24:30,449 we've prosecuted a relentless offensive 553 00:24:30,449 --> 00:24:33,290 campaign , our defense has been equally 554 00:24:33,290 --> 00:24:35,979 important . Across the theater 555 00:24:35,979 --> 00:24:37,979 operations have remained steady and 556 00:24:37,979 --> 00:24:39,890 disciplined . Once again , our 557 00:24:39,890 --> 00:24:42,089 integrated air and missile defense 558 00:24:42,089 --> 00:24:45,170 network is performing exactly , exactly 559 00:24:45,170 --> 00:24:48,400 as it's intended . US Patriot and THAAD 560 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:51,479 batteries along with ballistic missile 561 00:24:51,479 --> 00:24:54,060 defense capable Navy destroyers 562 00:24:54,599 --> 00:24:56,719 continue to coordinate and execute 563 00:24:56,719 --> 00:24:58,386 intercepts with precision and 564 00:24:58,386 --> 00:25:01,569 consistency . I wish that 565 00:25:01,569 --> 00:25:04,810 every American could hear the voice 566 00:25:04,810 --> 00:25:08,089 communications like I have as these 567 00:25:08,089 --> 00:25:11,810 joint operation centers remain calm , 568 00:25:12,290 --> 00:25:15,310 focused , and cool while executing 569 00:25:15,449 --> 00:25:18,609 under fire , uh , over and over again . 570 00:25:19,660 --> 00:25:21,438 Collectively these systems have 571 00:25:21,438 --> 00:25:23,327 intercepted hundreds of ballistic 572 00:25:23,327 --> 00:25:26,500 missiles targeting US forces , our 573 00:25:26,500 --> 00:25:30,069 partners , and regional stability . The 574 00:25:30,069 --> 00:25:32,540 threat from one-way attack UAVs has 575 00:25:32,540 --> 00:25:34,989 remained persistent . Our systems have 576 00:25:34,989 --> 00:25:37,045 proven effective in countering these 577 00:25:37,045 --> 00:25:39,211 platforms , engaging targets rapidly . 578 00:25:39,430 --> 00:25:42,699 Each intercept represents hundreds of 579 00:25:42,699 --> 00:25:45,229 hours of training , readiness , and 580 00:25:45,229 --> 00:25:47,396 technology all coming together to work 581 00:25:47,396 --> 00:25:50,510 as designed . We remain vigilant in the 582 00:25:50,510 --> 00:25:53,430 counter UAV fight , and the defense of 583 00:25:53,430 --> 00:25:56,760 the region is not ours alone . As the 584 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,199 threat grew , our partners surged in 585 00:25:59,199 --> 00:26:02,119 beside us . Air defense batteries in 586 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:04,930 Qatar , the UAE , Kuwait , Jordan , and 587 00:26:04,930 --> 00:26:07,489 Saudi Arabia joined the fight , proof 588 00:26:07,489 --> 00:26:10,280 positive that years of training , trust , 589 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:13,859 and hard earned integration pay off . I 590 00:26:13,859 --> 00:26:17,689 am aware of the loss of 3 US Air Force 591 00:26:17,689 --> 00:26:21,130 F-15Es overnight in the region . I am 592 00:26:21,130 --> 00:26:23,479 grateful for the safety of the crews , 593 00:26:23,530 --> 00:26:26,160 and we know that this was not from 594 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,089 hostile enemy fire . As this matter is 595 00:26:29,089 --> 00:26:31,290 under investigation , I'll not comment 596 00:26:31,290 --> 00:26:34,369 further on this . Let me close . 597 00:26:34,790 --> 00:26:37,630 Operations will remain active across 598 00:26:37,630 --> 00:26:41,579 the theater and across the globe . The 599 00:26:41,579 --> 00:26:43,550 US forces are postured not only to 600 00:26:43,550 --> 00:26:46,709 maintain pressure but to respond and 601 00:26:46,709 --> 00:26:50,390 adapt as required . Operation Epic Fury 602 00:26:50,390 --> 00:26:52,670 stands as a reminder of what the United 603 00:26:52,670 --> 00:26:56,260 States military uniquely delivers the 604 00:26:56,260 --> 00:26:58,689 ability to project power on a global 605 00:26:58,689 --> 00:27:01,689 scale with speed . Surprise , 606 00:27:02,020 --> 00:27:05,640 precision , and overwhelming force when 607 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:09,219 and where our nation requires it . What 608 00:27:09,219 --> 00:27:11,052 we've demonstrated over the past 609 00:27:11,052 --> 00:27:12,775 several days reflects years of 610 00:27:12,775 --> 00:27:14,699 investment in readiness , joint 611 00:27:14,699 --> 00:27:17,099 integration , and professionalism of 612 00:27:17,099 --> 00:27:20,650 the joint force . As major combat 613 00:27:20,650 --> 00:27:22,872 operations continue across CENTCOM , we 614 00:27:22,872 --> 00:27:25,300 remain engaged globally . America's 615 00:27:25,300 --> 00:27:27,500 Joint Force retains the credibility , 616 00:27:27,859 --> 00:27:31,020 capacity , and flexibility to respond 617 00:27:31,020 --> 00:27:33,859 to any contingency anywhere in the 618 00:27:33,859 --> 00:27:37,689 world at any time . To those who would 619 00:27:37,689 --> 00:27:40,530 test our resolve or threaten the United 620 00:27:40,530 --> 00:27:44,000 States , our allies , or our interests , 621 00:27:44,890 --> 00:27:47,790 understand clearly we can reach you , 622 00:27:48,130 --> 00:27:50,449 we can sustain the fight , and we can 623 00:27:50,449 --> 00:27:53,219 scale the fight , and we will prevail . 624 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:56,609 To the American people , your joint 625 00:27:56,609 --> 00:28:00,160 force remains steady , frosty , 626 00:28:00,449 --> 00:28:03,369 calm , and focused . Your service 627 00:28:03,369 --> 00:28:06,729 members are trained . Disciplined and 628 00:28:06,729 --> 00:28:09,569 determined , we understand the risks of 629 00:28:09,569 --> 00:28:12,089 this mission and the weight of the 630 00:28:12,089 --> 00:28:15,770 responsibility that we carry . We also 631 00:28:15,770 --> 00:28:18,699 recognize that our families also 632 00:28:18,930 --> 00:28:21,810 shoulder the burden at home . You are a 633 00:28:21,810 --> 00:28:25,689 part of this too . I am proud today as 634 00:28:25,689 --> 00:28:28,849 I am every day to stand as a member of 635 00:28:28,849 --> 00:28:31,089 America's joint force . There is no 636 00:28:31,089 --> 00:28:34,089 mission too complex , no distance too 637 00:28:34,089 --> 00:28:37,109 great , and no adversary too determined 638 00:28:37,290 --> 00:28:39,369 for the men and women who wear our 639 00:28:39,369 --> 00:28:42,930 nation's uniform . We mourn our fallen , 640 00:28:43,380 --> 00:28:45,829 we honor their families , and we 641 00:28:45,829 --> 00:28:48,550 continue our mission with focus , unity , 642 00:28:48,670 --> 00:28:50,670 and strength . And now I'm happy to 643 00:28:50,670 --> 00:28:52,781 take any questions . Thank you , Mr . 644 00:28:52,781 --> 00:28:54,726 Chairman . Right here . Go ahead . 645 00:28:55,060 --> 00:28:56,782 Thank you for your time . What 646 00:28:56,782 --> 00:28:58,838 percentage of Iranian longs straight 647 00:28:58,838 --> 00:29:00,959 capabilities are still in the fight , 648 00:29:01,020 --> 00:29:03,420 and what is our exit strategy here and 649 00:29:03,420 --> 00:29:06,189 when will it be deployed ? Well , they , 650 00:29:06,310 --> 00:29:07,866 they have long range strike 651 00:29:07,866 --> 00:29:09,977 capabilities , um , which we're hyper 652 00:29:09,977 --> 00:29:12,199 focused on . The brief we got just this 653 00:29:12,199 --> 00:29:14,366 morning , Admiral Cooper knows exactly 654 00:29:14,366 --> 00:29:16,643 and precisely what kind of threat , uh , 655 00:29:16,643 --> 00:29:18,754 matrix he's looking at , the way they 656 00:29:18,754 --> 00:29:18,630 might change their techniques and how 657 00:29:18,630 --> 00:29:21,199 we adapt to that . Uh , so we're making 658 00:29:21,199 --> 00:29:22,921 sure the theater commander has 659 00:29:22,921 --> 00:29:24,977 absolutely everything he needs , and 660 00:29:24,977 --> 00:29:26,699 one of the things the chairman 661 00:29:26,699 --> 00:29:26,589 mentioned is for months and months , 662 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:28,696 even before we built up , we ensured 663 00:29:28,696 --> 00:29:30,362 that we had maximum defensive 664 00:29:30,362 --> 00:29:32,418 capabilities in theater to allow the 665 00:29:32,418 --> 00:29:34,418 president the decision space in the 666 00:29:34,418 --> 00:29:36,529 future . So even before this build up 667 00:29:36,529 --> 00:29:38,640 in the last 30 days , we discreetly . 668 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:40,640 Brought defensive assets in to make 669 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:42,529 sure understanding that there are 670 00:29:42,529 --> 00:29:44,529 Iranian capabilities as far as time 671 00:29:44,529 --> 00:29:46,696 frame . I would never hang hang a time 672 00:29:46,696 --> 00:29:48,529 frame from our perspective . The 673 00:29:48,529 --> 00:29:50,751 commander in chief sets the up tempo in 674 00:29:50,751 --> 00:29:50,750 terms of this fight . As I said , it's 675 00:29:50,750 --> 00:29:53,189 on his terms , and we'll make sure that 676 00:29:53,189 --> 00:29:55,030 Admiral Cooper and his team have 677 00:29:55,030 --> 00:29:56,974 everything they need , not just to 678 00:29:56,974 --> 00:29:59,197 defend . I mean , the best defense is a 679 00:29:59,197 --> 00:30:01,363 good offense and so we're aggressively 680 00:30:01,363 --> 00:30:03,419 pushing into that airspace over that 681 00:30:03,419 --> 00:30:05,252 southern flank to ensure that we 682 00:30:05,252 --> 00:30:07,474 control it and we destroy anything that 683 00:30:07,474 --> 00:30:09,641 moves that would attempt to shoot us . 684 00:30:09,641 --> 00:30:09,449 Think of it as , uh , shooting the 685 00:30:09,449 --> 00:30:11,959 archer instead of the arrows . Uh , 686 00:30:12,010 --> 00:30:14,066 that's where we wanna be and we have 687 00:30:14,066 --> 00:30:16,177 the kind of exquisite intelligence to 688 00:30:16,177 --> 00:30:18,010 get over the top , find that and 689 00:30:18,010 --> 00:30:20,288 destroy it . It won't happen overnight . 690 00:30:20,288 --> 00:30:22,454 This is a big battle space , uh , with 691 00:30:22,454 --> 00:30:24,621 a lot of capabilities . That's part of 692 00:30:24,621 --> 00:30:26,788 the reason why it's such a threat . To 693 00:30:26,788 --> 00:30:26,479 us , that's why I talk about 694 00:30:26,479 --> 00:30:29,699 conventional umbrella to blackmail 695 00:30:29,699 --> 00:30:31,959 nuclear ambitions . They were building 696 00:30:31,959 --> 00:30:34,599 up this conventional arsenal in order 697 00:30:34,599 --> 00:30:36,766 to ensure that no one would ever block 698 00:30:36,766 --> 00:30:38,932 them from their ability to get nuclear 699 00:30:38,932 --> 00:30:40,877 weapons . So we're very clear-eyed 700 00:30:40,877 --> 00:30:43,210 about the nature of this Iranian threat , 701 00:30:43,210 --> 00:30:43,199 and we're going to get after it . I 702 00:30:43,199 --> 00:30:45,366 don't know if you have anything to add 703 00:30:45,366 --> 00:30:47,588 to that , Mr . Chairman . Thank you for 704 00:30:47,588 --> 00:30:46,719 the question . The only thing I'll add 705 00:30:46,719 --> 00:30:49,819 is . Unlike an operation , a single 706 00:30:49,819 --> 00:30:51,708 operation like Midnight Hammer or 707 00:30:51,708 --> 00:30:53,819 Absolute Resolve , uh , we'll , it'll 708 00:30:53,819 --> 00:30:56,041 take some time for us to conduct battle 709 00:30:56,041 --> 00:30:58,041 damage assessment and the targeting 710 00:30:58,041 --> 00:31:00,097 cycle that CENCOM will run will take 711 00:31:00,097 --> 00:31:02,041 those things into effect . Admiral 712 00:31:02,041 --> 00:31:04,152 Cooper will adjust his plan and fires 713 00:31:04,152 --> 00:31:04,140 accordingly to ensure that we're 714 00:31:04,140 --> 00:31:06,239 treating that . He's focused on 715 00:31:06,239 --> 00:31:08,461 long-range strike capability coming out 716 00:31:08,461 --> 00:31:10,599 of the enemy , um , And , uh , and 717 00:31:10,599 --> 00:31:12,821 that's a key and essential part of it , 718 00:31:12,821 --> 00:31:15,160 the capabilities that still exist from 719 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:17,327 the enemy front . Yeah , that's what I 720 00:31:17,327 --> 00:31:19,549 mean when I say we're still doing BDA . 721 00:31:19,549 --> 00:31:21,716 Normally , you know , normally we'd be 722 00:31:21,716 --> 00:31:23,827 able to see a singular thing and we'd 723 00:31:23,827 --> 00:31:25,771 assess pretty quickly . He's doing 724 00:31:25,771 --> 00:31:27,993 offense and assessment simultaneously , 725 00:31:27,993 --> 00:31:30,104 so it'll take longer for us to assess 726 00:31:30,104 --> 00:31:32,216 than it would in a single operation . 727 00:31:32,550 --> 00:31:34,550 Secretary Hexa , thank you . Reagan 728 00:31:34,550 --> 00:31:36,717 Reese with the Daily Caller . Um , two 729 00:31:36,717 --> 00:31:38,883 questions for you . The president said 730 00:31:38,883 --> 00:31:41,050 yesterday in his video message that we 731 00:31:41,050 --> 00:31:43,272 will leave Iran when we complete all of 732 00:31:43,272 --> 00:31:44,939 our objectives . What are our 733 00:31:44,939 --> 00:31:46,939 objectives , and can you share more 734 00:31:46,939 --> 00:31:48,939 information on how the soldiers who 735 00:31:48,939 --> 00:31:51,161 were killed were killed ? Well , I laid 736 00:31:51,161 --> 00:31:53,217 out the objectives , uh , as did the 737 00:31:53,217 --> 00:31:55,439 chairman . They're , they're completely 738 00:31:55,439 --> 00:31:57,550 nested . I mean , Iran has an ability 739 00:31:57,550 --> 00:31:57,410 to project power against us and our 740 00:31:57,410 --> 00:31:59,739 allies in ways that we can't , um , we 741 00:31:59,739 --> 00:32:01,683 can't tolerate . So whether that's 742 00:32:01,683 --> 00:32:03,628 ballistic missiles and drones , so 743 00:32:03,628 --> 00:32:05,295 offensive capabilities , uh , 744 00:32:05,295 --> 00:32:07,461 effectively their , their navy , which 745 00:32:07,461 --> 00:32:09,517 would attempt to set other terms and 746 00:32:09,517 --> 00:32:11,517 impose different costs , uh , drone 747 00:32:11,517 --> 00:32:13,628 capabilities which we , which we laid 748 00:32:13,628 --> 00:32:15,683 out there and ultimately though this 749 00:32:15,683 --> 00:32:17,859 tying it back to Midnight Hammer , the 750 00:32:17,859 --> 00:32:19,915 president has been willing to make a 751 00:32:19,915 --> 00:32:22,081 deal . You can't have a nuclear bomb . 752 00:32:22,359 --> 00:32:24,526 Radical Islamists can't have a nuclear 753 00:32:24,526 --> 00:32:26,803 bomb that they wield against the world . 754 00:32:26,839 --> 00:32:29,061 He gave them every single opportunity , 755 00:32:29,061 --> 00:32:31,117 then we precisely took it away . And 756 00:32:31,117 --> 00:32:33,339 even , even then after that they didn't 757 00:32:33,339 --> 00:32:35,339 have that . They didn't come to the 758 00:32:35,339 --> 00:32:37,339 table with a willingness to give it 759 00:32:37,339 --> 00:32:39,561 away . So ultimately that those nuclear 760 00:32:39,561 --> 00:32:41,783 ambitions which never ceased , uh , are 761 00:32:41,783 --> 00:32:43,895 something that had to be addressed as 762 00:32:43,895 --> 00:32:45,950 well . So that's a discrete sense of 763 00:32:45,950 --> 00:32:48,061 what's being addressed here to ensure 764 00:32:48,061 --> 00:32:50,172 that they can't use that conventional 765 00:32:50,172 --> 00:32:52,061 umbrella to continue a pursuit of 766 00:32:52,061 --> 00:32:54,339 nuclear ambitions , uh , and then . As , 767 00:32:54,339 --> 00:32:56,450 as it pertains to the US casualties , 768 00:32:56,450 --> 00:32:58,839 that particular incident , uh , was , 769 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:01,167 you know , you have air defenses and a 770 00:33:01,167 --> 00:33:03,444 lot's coming in and you hit most of it , 771 00:33:03,444 --> 00:33:02,969 and we absolutely do . We have 772 00:33:02,969 --> 00:33:05,080 incredible air defenders . Uh , every 773 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:07,025 once in a while you might have one 774 00:33:07,025 --> 00:33:09,025 unfortunately we call it a squirter 775 00:33:09,025 --> 00:33:11,302 that , that makes its way through , uh , 776 00:33:11,302 --> 00:33:13,413 and in that particular case , uh , it 777 00:33:13,413 --> 00:33:15,525 happened to hit , uh , a , a tactical 778 00:33:15,525 --> 00:33:17,525 operations center , uh , that was , 779 00:33:17,525 --> 00:33:19,636 that was fortified , but , um , these 780 00:33:19,636 --> 00:33:21,802 are powerful weapons , so we , uh , we 781 00:33:21,802 --> 00:33:23,747 certainly . We'll do , as I said , 782 00:33:24,050 --> 00:33:26,161 moments like that as we remember them 783 00:33:26,161 --> 00:33:28,328 and we take care of them and take care 784 00:33:28,328 --> 00:33:30,272 of their families only stiffen our 785 00:33:30,272 --> 00:33:32,439 resolve to ensure that we , uh . We do 786 00:33:32,439 --> 00:33:34,383 this properly . Thank you . Yeah , 787 00:33:34,383 --> 00:33:36,606 we're here . Thank you , uh , Secretary 788 00:33:36,606 --> 00:33:38,828 Hecketh . I had two questions for you . 789 00:33:38,828 --> 00:33:40,883 First , um , are there currently any 790 00:33:40,883 --> 00:33:43,050 American boots on the ground in Iran ? 791 00:33:43,050 --> 00:33:45,969 Um No , but we're not gonna go into the 792 00:33:45,969 --> 00:33:48,302 exercise of what we will or will not do . 793 00:33:48,302 --> 00:33:50,525 I think it's one of those fallacies for 794 00:33:50,525 --> 00:33:52,530 a long time that this department or 795 00:33:52,530 --> 00:33:54,586 presidents or others should tell the 796 00:33:54,586 --> 00:33:56,752 American people this and our , and our 797 00:33:56,752 --> 00:33:56,449 enemies , by the way , here's exactly 798 00:33:56,449 --> 00:33:58,671 what we'll do . Here's exactly how long 799 00:33:58,671 --> 00:34:00,893 we'll go , here's exactly how far we'll 800 00:34:00,893 --> 00:34:02,949 go , here's what we're willing to do 801 00:34:02,949 --> 00:34:05,116 and not do , it's foolishness . And so 802 00:34:05,116 --> 00:34:06,949 President Trump ensures that our 803 00:34:06,949 --> 00:34:09,060 enemies understand we'll go as far as 804 00:34:09,060 --> 00:34:11,010 we need to go to advance American 805 00:34:11,010 --> 00:34:13,343 interests , but we're not dumb about it . 806 00:34:13,343 --> 00:34:15,454 You don't have to roll 200,000 people 807 00:34:15,454 --> 00:34:17,621 in there and stay for 20 years . We've 808 00:34:17,621 --> 00:34:19,788 proven that you can achieve objectives 809 00:34:19,788 --> 00:34:22,010 that advance American interests without 810 00:34:22,010 --> 00:34:21,570 being foolish about it . Now , will we 811 00:34:21,570 --> 00:34:23,939 be bold about it ? Are we willing to be 812 00:34:23,939 --> 00:34:25,995 decisive about it ? Do we put months 813 00:34:25,995 --> 00:34:28,106 and months of planning into what kind 814 00:34:28,106 --> 00:34:29,883 of effects we want to achieve ? 815 00:34:29,883 --> 00:34:32,106 Absolutely . But going forward , why in 816 00:34:32,106 --> 00:34:35,519 the world would we tell you , you , the 817 00:34:35,519 --> 00:34:37,638 enemy , anybody what we will or will 818 00:34:37,638 --> 00:34:39,948 not do in pursuit of an objective ? We 819 00:34:39,948 --> 00:34:42,569 fight to win . We fight to achieve the 820 00:34:42,569 --> 00:34:44,736 objectives the president of the United 821 00:34:44,736 --> 00:34:46,958 States has laid out , and we will do so 822 00:34:46,958 --> 00:34:49,180 unapologetically . Thank you . Is there 823 00:34:49,180 --> 00:34:49,168 any significance to Israel carrying out 824 00:34:49,168 --> 00:34:51,335 the strike to kill the Ayatollah ? And 825 00:34:51,335 --> 00:34:53,224 um I wanted to know what was your 826 00:34:53,224 --> 00:34:55,446 immediate reaction to finding out about 827 00:34:55,446 --> 00:34:57,557 his killing . I , uh , I think Israel 828 00:34:57,557 --> 00:34:59,899 did a great job in the conduct of that 829 00:34:59,899 --> 00:35:02,121 operation . Trump put a 4 week timeline 830 00:35:02,121 --> 00:35:05,830 right here , please . Uh , yeah , thank 831 00:35:05,830 --> 00:35:08,129 you . Um , you , you mentioned during 832 00:35:08,129 --> 00:35:10,351 the briefing , uh , General Kane , that 833 00:35:10,351 --> 00:35:12,462 there would be additional troops sent 834 00:35:12,462 --> 00:35:14,629 to the region . Could you say how many 835 00:35:14,629 --> 00:35:16,851 troops , uh , currently are involved in 836 00:35:16,851 --> 00:35:19,018 this operation and how many additional 837 00:35:19,018 --> 00:35:21,018 troops are planned to go in in , in 838 00:35:21,018 --> 00:35:23,429 this next phase ? Uh , I don't want to 839 00:35:23,429 --> 00:35:25,540 talk specifics because that would tip 840 00:35:25,540 --> 00:35:27,707 the enemy off . Um , we , we have more 841 00:35:27,707 --> 00:35:30,469 tactical aviation flowing into theater 842 00:35:30,469 --> 00:35:32,580 just based on the time it took to get 843 00:35:32,580 --> 00:35:34,747 it out there . Um , I think we're just 844 00:35:34,747 --> 00:35:36,858 about where we want to be in terms of 845 00:35:36,858 --> 00:35:39,025 total combat capacity and total combat 846 00:35:39,025 --> 00:35:41,136 power for Admiral Cooper . One of the 847 00:35:41,136 --> 00:35:43,302 things though that a commander , he'll 848 00:35:43,302 --> 00:35:45,850 consistently assess the trajectory of 849 00:35:45,850 --> 00:35:47,929 the campaign . Is he on or off 850 00:35:47,929 --> 00:35:50,409 trajectory , and then make an ask of 851 00:35:50,409 --> 00:35:53,070 the joint force , which will then , uh , 852 00:35:53,090 --> 00:35:55,449 develop options for consideration by 853 00:35:55,449 --> 00:35:57,393 the secretary and the president to 854 00:35:57,393 --> 00:35:59,227 either increase or in some cases 855 00:35:59,227 --> 00:36:00,893 decrease the amount of combat 856 00:36:00,893 --> 00:36:03,250 capability that we have over there . I 857 00:36:03,250 --> 00:36:05,472 heard the question about , uh , about 4 858 00:36:05,472 --> 00:36:07,810 weeks . It's the typical , typical NBC 859 00:36:07,810 --> 00:36:09,532 sort of gotcha type question . 860 00:36:09,532 --> 00:36:11,754 President Trump has all the latitude in 861 00:36:11,754 --> 00:36:13,977 the world to talk about how long it may 862 00:36:13,977 --> 00:36:16,088 or may not take 4 weeks , 2 weeks , 6 863 00:36:16,088 --> 00:36:18,088 weeks . It could move up , it could 864 00:36:18,088 --> 00:36:20,310 move back . Uh , we're going to execute 865 00:36:20,310 --> 00:36:20,250 at his command the objectives we've set 866 00:36:20,250 --> 00:36:22,590 out to achieve and what he has shown an 867 00:36:22,590 --> 00:36:24,590 ability to do that other presidents 868 00:36:24,590 --> 00:36:26,701 can't quite seem to have the aperture 869 00:36:26,701 --> 00:36:28,590 to do . Well , I mean , Joe Biden 870 00:36:28,590 --> 00:36:30,923 didn't even know what he was doing . Uh , 871 00:36:30,923 --> 00:36:32,757 is to look for opportunities and 872 00:36:32,757 --> 00:36:34,646 off-ramps and escalations for the 873 00:36:34,646 --> 00:36:34,620 United States that creates new 874 00:36:34,620 --> 00:36:37,040 opportunities to execute what we need 875 00:36:37,379 --> 00:36:39,490 on our own timeline . So you can play 876 00:36:39,490 --> 00:36:41,657 games about 4 weeks , 5 weeks . He has 877 00:36:41,657 --> 00:36:43,879 all the latitude , and I'm glad he does 878 00:36:43,879 --> 00:36:43,750 because there's no better communicator 879 00:36:43,750 --> 00:36:45,750 than our president expressing those 880 00:36:45,750 --> 00:36:47,806 things the Daily Mail . I've been in 881 00:36:47,806 --> 00:36:49,806 meetings with the president for the 882 00:36:49,806 --> 00:36:51,917 last 2.5 days . We know exactly where 883 00:36:51,917 --> 00:36:53,639 his headspace is , and he will 884 00:36:53,639 --> 00:36:56,514 communicate as he should exactly what 885 00:36:56,514 --> 00:36:58,458 he would like , and we will follow 886 00:36:58,458 --> 00:37:00,236 those orders , and I think he , 887 00:37:00,236 --> 00:37:02,236 everything he said on that is right 888 00:37:02,236 --> 00:37:04,292 down the middle . Absolutely , yes , 889 00:37:04,292 --> 00:37:06,292 right there . Yes , sir . Thank you 890 00:37:06,292 --> 00:37:08,181 very much , Secretary . I left my 891 00:37:08,181 --> 00:37:11,139 hometown of Saka in Iranian Kurdistan 892 00:37:11,139 --> 00:37:15,139 in 1996 . Can you promise that 893 00:37:15,139 --> 00:37:18,719 I will be able to return home safely 894 00:37:18,899 --> 00:37:20,860 this year ? And I have a following 895 00:37:20,860 --> 00:37:22,916 question too , please . I appreciate 896 00:37:22,916 --> 00:37:24,860 the question . I , I'm not here to 897 00:37:24,860 --> 00:37:27,027 place guarantees on that , but I think 898 00:37:27,027 --> 00:37:29,249 the message the president has given has 899 00:37:29,249 --> 00:37:31,582 been clear , uh , to the people of Iran . 900 00:37:31,582 --> 00:37:33,638 This is your moment . There were the 901 00:37:33,638 --> 00:37:35,693 world was seized by these crowds and 902 00:37:35,693 --> 00:37:37,638 then seized by the reality of this 903 00:37:37,638 --> 00:37:39,638 regime killing tens of thousands of 904 00:37:39,638 --> 00:37:41,638 innocent protesters . So we saw the 905 00:37:41,638 --> 00:37:43,916 nature of the regime yet again exposed . 906 00:37:43,916 --> 00:37:45,860 We saw many , many of the Iranian 907 00:37:45,860 --> 00:37:48,739 people seek a change there . This is 908 00:37:48,739 --> 00:37:50,795 their moment to take advantage of it 909 00:37:50,795 --> 00:37:54,199 for sure . You served in Iraq and know 910 00:37:54,500 --> 00:37:57,860 that no American soldiers were killed 911 00:37:57,860 --> 00:38:00,879 in Kurdistan . The Kurdish people are 912 00:38:00,879 --> 00:38:04,419 very pro-American . Will you continue 913 00:38:04,419 --> 00:38:06,959 protect Kurdistan and Peshmerga as 914 00:38:06,959 --> 00:38:10,510 loyal ally ? Of the United States . Why 915 00:38:10,510 --> 00:38:12,820 I'm asking this question ? Because now 916 00:38:12,820 --> 00:38:16,030 Kurdistan is under attack by Iranian 917 00:38:16,030 --> 00:38:19,350 drones and by proxies in Iraq and on 918 00:38:19,350 --> 00:38:21,669 the region . I think I can speak to 919 00:38:21,669 --> 00:38:23,669 allies generally in the region who 920 00:38:23,669 --> 00:38:25,725 we've been in constant communication 921 00:38:25,725 --> 00:38:27,836 with . We have been standing shoulder 922 00:38:27,836 --> 00:38:30,058 to shoulder with them and we appreciate 923 00:38:30,058 --> 00:38:32,280 their capabilities . Absolutely , yes , 924 00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:34,502 right here . Thank you Cameron Rin with 925 00:38:34,502 --> 00:38:34,139 the Daily Wire . My question is about 926 00:38:34,139 --> 00:38:36,361 some of the domestic threats , if any , 927 00:38:36,361 --> 00:38:38,528 regarding this right now . Would there 928 00:38:38,528 --> 00:38:40,639 be any concerns about Iranian sleeper 929 00:38:40,639 --> 00:38:42,750 cells and kind of what is the Trump 930 00:38:42,750 --> 00:38:44,806 administration been doing to kind of 931 00:38:44,806 --> 00:38:46,972 monitor these across the interagency , 932 00:38:46,972 --> 00:38:49,083 uh , in full coordination , of course 933 00:38:49,083 --> 00:38:50,750 we're paying attention to any 934 00:38:50,750 --> 00:38:52,917 potentialities there . Um , there this 935 00:38:52,917 --> 00:38:54,972 is a former regime , a regime , uh , 936 00:38:54,972 --> 00:38:57,139 that seeks to export that ideology and 937 00:38:57,139 --> 00:38:59,889 try to , uh , sow terror . Um , uh , 938 00:38:59,969 --> 00:39:02,136 we're ready for that . We've , we've , 939 00:39:02,136 --> 00:39:04,413 we've seen these types of folks before , 940 00:39:04,413 --> 00:39:03,760 and the American people can rest 941 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:05,649 assured that , uh , we're , we're 942 00:39:05,649 --> 00:39:07,899 vigilant on that . Right , thank you . 943 00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:10,191 Um , kind of a follow up on that last 944 00:39:10,191 --> 00:39:12,191 question . There was just this what 945 00:39:12,191 --> 00:39:14,191 appears to be a terrorist attack in 946 00:39:14,191 --> 00:39:16,302 Austin yesterday . Um , how does that 947 00:39:16,302 --> 00:39:18,247 change the operation at all ? What 948 00:39:18,247 --> 00:39:20,413 effect does that have ? And it doesn't 949 00:39:20,413 --> 00:39:22,413 change the operation at all , and I 950 00:39:22,413 --> 00:39:21,840 know the authorities are , are 951 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:24,062 executing exactly the way they should . 952 00:39:24,062 --> 00:39:26,173 Secretary Hickset , and , and one for 953 00:39:26,173 --> 00:39:28,396 Chairman Kane as well . I understand to 954 00:39:28,396 --> 00:39:30,562 your point here that you don't want to 955 00:39:30,562 --> 00:39:32,173 broadcast everything for our 956 00:39:32,173 --> 00:39:34,340 adversaries to hear , but the American 957 00:39:34,340 --> 00:39:36,451 people also want to know what they're 958 00:39:36,451 --> 00:39:38,729 sending their men and women to war for . 959 00:39:38,729 --> 00:39:40,784 is there a concern of this spiraling 960 00:39:40,784 --> 00:39:42,951 into a longer war and then one for the 961 00:39:42,951 --> 00:39:45,173 chairman when you're done ? Did you not 962 00:39:45,173 --> 00:39:48,149 hear my remarks ? I mean we're ensuring 963 00:39:48,149 --> 00:39:50,149 the mission gets accomplished , but 964 00:39:50,149 --> 00:39:52,316 we're very clear eyed as the president 965 00:39:52,316 --> 00:39:54,538 has been unlike other presidents , uh , 966 00:39:54,538 --> 00:39:56,729 about the foolish policies of the past 967 00:39:57,270 --> 00:39:59,492 that recklessly pulled us in the things 968 00:39:59,492 --> 00:40:01,714 that we're not tethered to actual clear 969 00:40:01,714 --> 00:40:05,050 objectives , um , so we , we know . 970 00:40:05,979 --> 00:40:08,090 We have plans . We have generals . We 971 00:40:08,090 --> 00:40:10,201 have chairmans . We have commanders , 972 00:40:10,201 --> 00:40:12,146 CEOM commanders , Admiral Cooper , 973 00:40:12,146 --> 00:40:14,423 who's executing very deliberately , uh , 974 00:40:14,423 --> 00:40:16,590 to ensure outcomes that I laid out are 975 00:40:16,590 --> 00:40:18,646 accomplished , but we would never in 976 00:40:18,646 --> 00:40:20,701 front of a press pool , um , lay out 977 00:40:20,701 --> 00:40:22,923 how long that may take . Uh , our , the 978 00:40:22,923 --> 00:40:22,770 mission for our warfighters , which is 979 00:40:22,770 --> 00:40:25,060 what matters to us , is very , very 980 00:40:25,060 --> 00:40:27,171 clear . Uh , and they're executing it 981 00:40:27,171 --> 00:40:29,338 right now violently . And just for the 982 00:40:29,338 --> 00:40:31,560 chairman , quickly , I have one for the 983 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:33,671 chairman . You said this is not a one 984 00:40:33,671 --> 00:40:35,838 night operation . It will take time to 985 00:40:35,838 --> 00:40:38,090 achieve the goals . What would be the , 986 00:40:38,229 --> 00:40:40,389 the goal line here for you ? I think 987 00:40:40,389 --> 00:40:42,389 the secretary laid out the military 988 00:40:42,389 --> 00:40:44,611 objectives , and that's what we execute 989 00:40:44,611 --> 00:40:46,667 against is the military objectives . 990 00:40:46,667 --> 00:40:48,722 Last one right here , rich uranium . 991 00:40:48,722 --> 00:40:50,667 Thank you , sir . As you've said , 992 00:40:50,667 --> 00:40:52,833 there are a large amount of US service 993 00:40:52,833 --> 00:40:54,889 members that are in harm's way right 994 00:40:54,889 --> 00:40:57,222 now . What is your prayer for them ? Uh , 995 00:40:57,222 --> 00:40:59,278 first of all , my prayer for them is 996 00:40:59,278 --> 00:41:01,445 that I do pray for them . Um , my wife 997 00:41:01,445 --> 00:41:03,556 prays for them , our family prays for 998 00:41:03,556 --> 00:41:05,833 them , our cabinet prays for them . Um , 999 00:41:05,833 --> 00:41:08,719 none of this is done , um , on a whim . 1000 00:41:09,449 --> 00:41:11,338 Uh , having been in their boots , 1001 00:41:11,338 --> 00:41:13,338 having been in their shoes , having 1002 00:41:13,338 --> 00:41:15,338 been in their flight suits , um , I 1003 00:41:15,338 --> 00:41:17,338 think we , I mean , I know we think 1004 00:41:17,338 --> 00:41:19,505 about them with every decision that we 1005 00:41:19,505 --> 00:41:21,616 make and every recommendation that we 1006 00:41:21,616 --> 00:41:21,290 make , uh , to the president of the 1007 00:41:21,290 --> 00:41:23,401 United States . Those , those , those 1008 00:41:23,401 --> 00:41:25,568 recommendations are made prayerfully , 1009 00:41:25,919 --> 00:41:28,969 uh , and when I pray every day for them 1010 00:41:28,969 --> 00:41:31,199 and for this mission , I pray simply 1011 00:41:31,199 --> 00:41:33,366 for the biblical wisdom to see what is 1012 00:41:33,366 --> 00:41:35,588 right . And the courage to do it , it's 1013 00:41:35,588 --> 00:41:37,810 gonna take courage to follow through on 1014 00:41:37,810 --> 00:41:40,088 this . There's gonna be a lot of noise , 1015 00:41:40,088 --> 00:41:42,199 uh , and we pray for that and we hope 1016 00:41:42,199 --> 00:41:44,366 all of you do , do as well . Thank you 1017 00:41:44,366 --> 00:41:43,729 very much . Appreciate it . Thank you .