Pete Hegseth played a central role in the U.S. war against Iran, which began in February 2026, providing regular briefings alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine. He emphasized that the war, called Operation Epic Fury, was not similar to earlier conflicts such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq and pushed for a campaign of “maximum lethality.” Hegseth declared victory after a ceasefire was announced in April 2026, but the conflict continued, becoming unpopular because of adverse economic effects, reports of munitions shortages, and difficult conditions for U.S. sailors.
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