US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says decisive days ahead as US strikes Iran nuclear site, Strait of Hormuz tensions rise

US Defence Secretary ‌Pete Hegseth has told a briefing at the Pentagon that air strikes are damaging the morale ​of the Iranian military.

Staff Writers
Reuters
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says he visited US troops in the Middle East on the weekend.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says he visited US troops in the Middle East on the weekend. Credit: AAP

The next few days in the Middle East conflict will be decisive, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has told a briefing, saying there have been major desertions from the Iranian armed forces.

“We have more and more options, and they have less ... in only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive,” Mr Hegseth said.

“Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it.”

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Hegseth, citing intelligence, said the strikes were damaging the morale of the Iranian military.

This, he said, was triggering widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and causing frustration amongst senior leaders.

Trump’s social media post came after US strikes hit a city that is home to one of Iran’s main nuclear sites, sending a massive fireball into the sky, and Iran attacked a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Persian Gulf.

More vessels were flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, Hegseth told the briefing.

“There are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well,” he told reporters.

with AP

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