US surges forces to Middle East as Pentagon warns Iran fight ‘will take some time'
More U.S. forces are headed to the Middle East, according to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff Gen. Dan Caine, as the U.S. escalates its campaign against Iran. "The...
By Fox News · Fox News
More U.S. forces are headed to the Middle East, according to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff Gen. Dan Caine, as the U.S. escalates its campaign against Iran. "The flow of forces continues today. In fact, Admiral Cooper will receive additional forces even today," Caine said during a Pentagon briefing Monday morning, referring to Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper. Caine declined to provide troop numbers, saying, "I don't want to talk specifics, because that would tip the enemy off. We have more tactical aviation flowing into theater just based on the time it took to get it out there." " I think we're just about where we want to be in terms of total combat capacity and total combat power for Admiral Cooper." IRAN'S TERROR PROXIES FROM IRAQ-TO-LEBANON SAY READY TO RESPOND TO US-ISRAEL ATTACKS Caine said the additional forces build on a monthlong repositioning of U.S. assets across the region, including carrier strike groups, advanced fighter aircraft and air defense systems, as the U.S. prosecutes what officials described as "major combat operations" that have already resulted in the death of 555 Iranians, according to an Associated Press count, as of Monday morning. Caine said the U.S. mission in Iran is to "prevent Iran from (the) ability to project power outside its borders." "This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change and the world is better off for it today," added War Secretary Pete Hegseth . AMERICA STRIKES IRAN AGAIN — HAS WASHINGTON PLANNED FOR WHAT COMES NEXT? Hegseth said the mission was to destroy Iranian missiles and missile production, destroy its navy and ensure it has no capability to pursue a nuclear weapon. The general warned the operation "will take some time" and acknowledged, "We expect to take additional losses." Four U.S. service members have been killed in the operation that began in the early hours of Saturday Eastern Time. Hegseth said the service members were struck by an Iranian missile that penetr…