Hegseth Warns US ‘Can’t Stop Everything’ Iran Fires Despite Claiming Air Superiority

Hegseth Warns US ‘Can’t Stop Everything’ Iran Fires Despite Claiming Air Superiority

WASHINGTON (AP) — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged Wednesday that some Iranian drone and missile attacks may still penetrate American defenses, even as he insisted that US forces are rapidly gaining control of Iranian airspace.

Speaking at the Pentagon alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hegseth said the United States had spared “no expense or capability” to bolster air defense systems across the Middle East to protect American troops and allied forces.

“This does not mean we can stop everything,” Hegseth said. “But we ensured that the maximum possible defense and maximum possible force protection was set up before we went on offense.”

His remarks came days after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian targets, widening a conflict that has sent shockwaves across the region and heightened fears of a prolonged war.

Gen. Caine stressed that US service members continue to face significant danger. “US service members remain in harm’s way, and we must be clear-eyed that the risk is still high,” he said.

The warning follows the deaths of six US soldiers in Kuwait after an Iranian drone struck an operations center located within a civilian port facility. According to military officials, the building — described by a relative of one of the victims as a shipping-container-style structure — reportedly lacked hardened defensive protections. The incident underscored the evolving nature of drone warfare and the difficulty of intercepting every low-flying or remotely piloted threat.

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Defense officials say layered systems — including Patriot missile batteries, naval-based interceptors, radar networks and counter-drone technologies — have been reinforced in key locations. However, Hegseth acknowledged that even advanced systems cannot guarantee a 100% interception rate, particularly during sustained attacks.

Despite the risks, Hegseth asserted that the US military’s technological edge and operational tempo are shifting the balance decisively. He said additional jet fighters, long-range bombers and logistical support units continue to arrive in the region, reinforcing America’s military posture.

Pentagon officials indicated that early phases of the campaign relied heavily on precision-guided munitions and stealth capabilities to neutralize Iranian air defense systems. As air superiority expands, US forces may increasingly deploy conventional precision and gravity bombs for sustained operations.

Hegseth also emphasized that the United States has sufficient munitions stockpiles and equipment to sustain a prolonged campaign if necessary. While US President Donald Trump has suggested the conflict could last four to five weeks, Hegseth signaled it may stretch longer, potentially up to eight weeks or more, depending on how events unfold.

“You can say four weeks, but it could be six, it could be eight, it could be three,” Hegseth said. “Ultimately, we set the pace and the tempo. The enemy is off balance, and we’re going to keep them off balance.”

Trump has said he is prepared “to go far longer” if required to achieve strategic objectives.

Military analysts note that wars of attrition depend not only on firepower but also on logistics, morale and political will. Sustained Iranian missile capabilities, proxy operations and cyber activities could continue to pose asymmetric challenges even if Tehran’s conventional air defenses are degraded.

Tehran has vowed to intensify its response, warning that regional military and economic infrastructure could be targeted if hostilities continue. Iranian officials have framed the conflict as a defense of sovereignty and signaled no immediate willingness to de-escalate.

The widening confrontation has raised concerns about potential spillover into neighboring states, disruptions to global energy markets and broader geopolitical instability.

For now, US defense leaders are balancing confidence in air dominance with public acknowledgment of ongoing risks — recognizing that even overwhelming military superiority does not eliminate the danger to troops deployed in active combat zones.

Hegseth Warns US ‘Can’t Stop Everything’ Iran Fires Despite Claiming Air Superiority