Hegseth warns ‘more casualties’ expected in Operation Epic Fury against Iran

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned that much casualties are expected successful the ongoing Operation Epic Fury successful Iran, with 7 U.S. soldiers having been killed truthful acold successful the fighting.

Hegseth made the remark during an interrogation with CBS’ "60 Minutes" that aired connected Sunday.

"The president's been close to accidental determination volition beryllium casualties," Hegseth said. "Things similar this don't hap without casualties."

"There volition beryllium much casualties," helium continued. "And nary 1 is — I mean, particularly our procreation knows what it's similar to spot Americans travel location successful caskets, it's — but that doesn't weaken america 1 bit. It stiffens our spine and our resoluteness to accidental this is simply a combat we volition finish."

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks astatine the "Shield of the Americas" Summit successful Miami, Florida, March 7, 2026. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

Six U.S. work members were killed successful a March 1 Iranian drone onslaught successful Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, portion supporting Operation Epic Fury. The U.S. subject said a seventh work subordinate died of injuries from an Iranian onslaught connected troops successful Saudi Arabia connected March 1.

The U.S. and Israel past week launched associated strikes against Iran. Iran has retaliated, launching strikes against Israel and neighboring Gulf Arab states, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Residents look connected and instrumentality pictures arsenic flames and fume emergence from an lipid retention installation struck arsenic attacks deed the metropolis during the U.S.–Israeli subject run successful Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Alireza Sotakbar/ISNA via AP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi connected Sunday told NBC News’ "Meet the Press" that if the U.S. deploys crushed troops successful Iran, "we person precise brave soldiers who are waiting for immoderate force who enters into our soil, to combat with them and to termination them and destruct them."

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"We ne'er springiness up, we ne'er surrender, and we proceed to defy arsenic agelong arsenic it takes," helium said. "We proceed to support ourselves and we are defending our territory, our radical and our dignity. And our dignity is not for sale."

When reporters asked President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One connected Saturday astir imaginable crushed troops being utilized successful the Iran operation, the president said determination would "have to beryllium a precise bully reason."

From left, President Donald Trump, White House Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, center, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth perceive to a reporter's question portion traveling aboard Air Force One en way from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to Miami, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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"And I would accidental if we ever did that, [Iran] would beryllium truthful decimated they wouldn't beryllium capable to combat astatine the crushed level," Trump told reporters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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