🚨 EPIC FURY OPS UNLEASHED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth & CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper DROP BOMBSHELLS in Tampa Press Briefing 💥

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This is NOT just talk – it's the full picture of U.S. readiness RIGHT NOW!  🔗 Read the full breakdown report now: https://tinyurl.com/global-breaking-updates-march   🚨 EPIC FURY OPS UNLEASHED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth & CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper DROP BOMBSHELLS in Tampa Press Briefing 💥  America's top brass laying out ironclad deterrence, massive force posture upgrades, missile defense wins, naval dominance in the Gulf, and ZERO tolerance for aggression amid rising threats.  #HegsethBriefing #CENTCOM #EpicFuryOps #USMilitary #PeteHegseth #BradCooper #MiddleEastTensions #NuclearReadiness #GlobalSecurity #WarUpdate #USDefense #March2026

Transcript

00:15Well, good afternoon. I'm honored to stand right here today alongside one of America's finest,

00:22Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Central Command. We just had a chance to spend a couple

00:26of hours together, better part of two hours, going through the entirety of this operation,

00:31Operation Epic Fury. And Admiral, I want to thank you for everything you do and your incredible

00:36leadership, for your dynamic thinking, the way you're attacking this problem set on every level.

00:41In just days of Operation Epic Fury, you and your team have delivered nothing short of devastating,

00:47precise strikes, taking out the better part of Iran's Navy, making it combat ineffective,

00:53neutralizing missile sites and launchers, and establishing total dominance over the skies we

00:59fly over and seas we fly over. Our forces are executing with unmatched skill, and the mission

01:05is advancing decisively. This is the kind of no-nonsense, results-driven warfighting that

01:11America demands. And you're delivering it in spades. You are the man for this moment.

01:18Admiral Cooper, on behalf of the President, the Department of War, and every American watching

01:23I want to thank you for your outstanding job you and CENTCOM are doing. Keep pressing

01:27the fight, and we are with you all the way. A few thoughts before I hand it over to the

01:33Admiral

01:33for an update. Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation

01:42for the IRGC in Iran. You see, there's no shortage of American will here. We remember and honor

01:51our fallen. Those six that we will soon welcome at Dover, who gave everything for their country in

01:58this mission. We remember them. But we remember them by rededicating ourselves even more fervently

02:05to this mission. Our commitment to our mission objectives only increases as our advantages continue to

02:14increase. We've got no shortage of munitions. Our stockpiles of defensive and offensive weapons allow us

02:21to sustain this campaign as long as we need to. Again, our munition status only increases as our

02:29advantage increases. Our capabilities? We have only just begun to fight, and fight decisively. Having a

02:39chance to hear from Admiral Cooper, if you think you've seen something, just wait. The amount of combat power that's

02:47still

02:47flowing, that's still coming, that we'll be able to project over Iran, is a multiples of what it currently

02:53is right now, when you add up our capabilities and those of the Israeli Defense Forces. And we have no

03:00shortage

03:00of authorities. The Admiral knows we have clear objectives with maximum authorities on the battlefield.

03:07The dumb, politically correct wars of the past were the opposite of what we're doing here. They had vague

03:13objectives with restrictive, minimalist rules of engagement. No more. Our authorities, his authorities,

03:22CENTCOM's authorities through the President and myself are maxed out. Our capabilities are overwhelming

03:28and gathering still, as are those of our Israeli partners. Our munitions are full up, and our will is

03:39ironclad. Which means our timeline is ours and ours alone to control. As long as it takes to ensure the

03:47United States of America achieves these objectives, and as we flow more forces, and as we flow more

03:52capabilities, and as our munitions, as we're flying over the top, have even more devastating effects,

03:58we set the tempo, we set the timeline, led by the commander on the ground. Our ear is to the

04:05ground to

04:05listen to Admiral Cooper, what he needs, and what he needs he will get. We are built for this fight.

04:12And we are in it to win it. And we have the right commander in the lead. So I'll now

04:17hand it over to

04:18Admiral Brad Cooper to give you an update right here from CENTCOM. Admiral.

04:21Mr. Secretary, first, thank you very much and good afternoon, and welcome to U.S. Central Command

04:25Headquarters, America's warfighting headquarters. It's great to be here alongside the Secretary and

04:31representing the more than 50,000 men and women in uniform currently executing Operation Epic Fury.

04:37So, Mr. Secretary, first, thank you very much for your leadership and support and the very clear vision

04:41and objectives that you've given us to allow us to use overwhelming force against the Iranian terrorist

04:46regime. And thanks to all of you for attending today, and welcome to Tampa. We are now starting our

04:53sixth day of a historic mission to eliminate Iran's ability to threaten Americans. We are, if I could

05:00channel my inner Navy officer, we are at full speed ahead in executing orders given by leadership

05:06in Washington. The President and Secretary Hexth have been crystal clear in their expectations,

05:11and we are at a high level of execution. As described by the Secretary and earlier this week by me,

05:17U.S. combat power is building as Iranian combat power declines. Our air dominance allows us to hit

05:24Iran's center of gravity with overwhelming power and reach. A couple of examples. In just the last,

05:3072 hours, America's bomber force has struck nearly 200 targets deep inside of Iran, including around Tehran.

05:37And in just the last hour, U.S. B-2 bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs, targeting

05:44deeply buried

05:45ballistic missile launchers. Notably, we have also struck Iran's equivalent of Space Command, which degrades their

05:52ability to threaten Americans. Then, if I just look back over the last 24 hours of the operation compared to

05:58where we were at

05:59start, ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90 percent since day one. Drone attacks have decreased by 83 percent

06:07since day one. Having said this, we remain vigilant. Our strikes against the Iranian Navy have intensified. You may have

06:15heard the

06:16President say just a little while ago that we have sunk or destroyed 24 ships. That was true at the

06:21moment. We're now up over 30 ships. And in just the last few hours, we hit an Iranian drone

06:27carrier ship. Roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier. And as we speak, it's on fire.

06:34The President gave us another task. To raise or level Iran's ballistic missile industrial base. So we're not just hitting

06:43what they have, we're destroying their ability to rebuild. And so as we transition to the next phase of this

06:48operation, we will systemically

06:50dismantle Iran's missile production capability for the future. And that's absolutely in progress. This is going to take some time,

06:57but our forces are

06:57well supplied, as the Secretary said, and we are absolutely ready to prosecute this mission decisively. Our combined joint forces

07:06have

07:06relentlessly destroyed Iran's air defenses over the past few days, and they've continued hunting for more systems to kill. Our

07:13air defenders are

07:14operating at the very top of their game. I couldn't be prouder shoulder to shoulder with our partners in the

07:19region, in many cases, providing the most

07:21integrated air defense network in Middle East history. We are fighting to win. Through combined U.S. and Israeli combat

07:28power, we will continue decimating

07:31Iran's ability to project power outside its borders. And if I can just conclude by saying a strong salute to

07:37the brave men and women who are out on the

07:39pointy edge of this, really doing exceptional work, I just couldn't be prouder. And I know the American people share

07:44in

07:45that same pride. So thank you very much. Absolutely. And with that, we'll take a few questions. Yeah, right here.

07:50Sir, I appreciate it. I wanted to ask, or Mr. Secretary, the Ukrainian president said today that the U.S.

07:58has asked for specific

07:59capabilities to deal with shahed drones, Iranian drones. Can you guys talk about what you asked for? And has there

08:05been

08:05any surprise from Iranian capabilities that you guys have seen in the past six days? Go ahead. We're very familiar

08:13with

08:13Iranian's capabilities. And as you might imagine, we planned for it right from the outset. And I feel good

08:18about what the plan was. Like any good organization, we adjust as necessary to meet the environment and we've made

08:26those

08:27appropriate adjustments. Absolutely. Right here. Thanks, Secretary. I had two for both of you. One, was an

08:33American pilot shot down today in Iraq? And two, I've heard reports that there's enriched uranium stored

08:39in Isfahan. I've also heard reports that there's not a lot of bombing there. Is that on purpose? Do we

08:45believe

08:45there's enriched uranium there? And would we ever send special forces to secure it? As CENTCOM pointed out,

08:52those reports of an F-15 being shot down are false. As you can imagine, Iran is doing everything it

08:59can

08:59to peddle in lies, deception and inflation of numbers in reality, mostly to propagandize to their own

09:05people, right? They don't, they've shut down the internet. They're hoping they can convince their own

09:10population that they're having success. One thing one of their leaders said recently is that, you know,

09:15500 Americans have been killed, they claim. These are lies. The lies will continue. CENTCOM will continue to

09:21debunk those lies. So, and as often is the case in conflict, first reports are often wrong. As it

09:28pertains to nuclear material and things like that, one of the objectives the president has always said

09:32is that Iran will not have a nuclear bomb, nuclear capabilities, but we would never disclose what we

09:36will or will not do inside operational plans. So Admiral Cooper's got a plan. We're working that plan,

09:41and targets will be struck or not struck according to what we want to achieve. Yeah, right there.

09:47Secretary Hexup, the president said earlier today in an interview that he would like to have a say in

09:53who's the next leader of Iran. Is this an expansion of your military objective? Do you view it that way?

09:59And additionally, you spoke earlier today about how previous leaders have drawn resources from our

10:06hemisphere to the Middle East. How do you avoid that? Well, there's no expansion. Ultimately, I think the

10:13president's having a heck of a say in who runs Iran, given the ongoing operation we have. So there's no

10:18expansion in our objectives. We know exactly what we're trying to achieve. I think today's a great

10:22example of what this war department is capable of doing. I was just in another part of Florida today

10:27where we announced, you know, America's counter-cartel conference. Eighteen countries coming together from

10:34Central, South America, and the Caribbean coming together to fight cartels. That is something that is ongoing.

10:39We're focused there. We're focused in the Indo-Pacific. We can mass combat power in CENTCOM.

10:45UCOM is able to support that as well. So we know we're laser focused on our hemisphere and our

10:50homeland. That's why we lock down the border. That's why we're working with partners to take on cartels.

10:53That's why we're sinking drug boats. That's why we're on the offense there. But the beautiful things about

10:58combatant commands is that, you know, Brad Cooper's laser focused on Central Command. Just like Frank Donovan is

11:06laser focused on Southern Command. We can do both. That's what a global power can do.

11:11Ultimately, this issue of Iran's nuclear pursuit and their unwillingness through negotiations to stop it was something

11:18President Trump has said for a long time needs to be dealt with. And after 47 years, he's doing something

11:24that no other

11:25president was willing to do. And we're doing it overwhelmingly and we're doing it decisively while also in other parts

11:32of the globe

11:32having the desired effects. Take, for example, what we displayed yesterday, the Iranian ship in the Indian Ocean, sunk by

11:41Indo-Pacom, another combatant command, who coordinated with us in order to make that happen.

11:46So America's reach is global. Our focus here, though, those missions, these missions are narrow, they're scoped.

11:51And Admiral Cooper is well on his way to ensuring that we reach those objectives.

11:56Right here. Yes, sir.

12:04The Ukrainian has been talking about providing low-cost interceptors given their experience.

12:11Is that something that the Pentagon is looking for? And Ruben Cooper, can you walk us through

12:15a little bit about how effective the Lucas drones have been, what kind of targets they hit, and how much

12:21that's helped, given that they're low-cost, alternative to a more expensive helium?

12:27Go ahead.

12:28Sure.

12:29I'm not familiar with the particular offer, but the interceptors in general.

12:34We've had a number of new capabilities being fielded.

12:37Obviously, I'm not going to talk about it from an operational perspective of what those are.

12:41But I think you have seen, over a period of time, us kind of get on the other side of

12:45this cost curve on drones in general.

12:48If I just walk back a couple of years, you remember what you used to always hear, we're

12:51shooting down a $50,000 drone with a $2 million missile.

12:55These days, we're spending a lot of time shooting down $100,000 drones with $10,000 weapons from

13:02ours.

13:02So that's one aspect of it.

13:03Lucas, indispensable, as many of you know, and if you don't know, this was an original

13:08Iranian drone design.

13:10We captured it, pulled the guts out, sent it back to America, put a little Made America

13:15on it, brought it back here, and we're shooting at the Iranians.

13:19Good targets.

13:21Good targets.

13:23Absolutely.

13:23Right there.

13:24Yes, ma'am.

13:24Thank you so much, Secretary.

13:26President Trump, in his first speech after the launch of the operation at the QI, he addressed

13:34Iranian people, and he said that there is going to be a time for you to come out, but it's

13:38not now.

13:39Stay home.

13:40It's not safe.

13:41I want to know if there is a timeline for that, that you're going to urge Iranian people

13:46to come out.

13:47How that is going to play out, and how are you going to protect the protesters?

13:53You know that they're going to be shot, probably, as we witnessed in January.

13:57That's what happened.

13:58How are you going to protect and support the protesters?

14:02And, Admiral, I have one question for you.

14:04How are you going to minimize the civilian harms?

14:10We have a lot of evidence that the passage units, IRGC commanders, they are now gathering

14:17in schools, in hospitals, in purely residential areas, because their headquarters are belarded,

14:24they are ruined, of course.

14:25So how are you going to protect the civilians while you're attacking the IRGC people's heart?

14:34I would just say on the protests, obviously a lot of Iranian people, the Iranian people

14:38showed a lot of courage in those protests, and we saw the Iranian regime was revealed

14:42for what it is in the way they reacted to that.

14:45The world saw that.

14:46No one's done more than President Trump to reopen the opportunity for those who want to

14:50free Iran to do so.

14:53Ultimately, it's common sense, as he said up front.

14:55Don't go out and protest while bombs are dropping inside Tehran and elsewhere.

15:01So there will come a moment where he determines, or they determine, that it's the time to seize

15:06that advantage.

15:07But there's a lot of things we're doing, and the Israeli military is doing, targeting

15:12those individuals who are targeting those who protest.

15:14The more you do that, and you erode their will, and you erode their capabilities, the

15:18more you create an opportunity for people to boldly stand up.

15:21Yeah, I would just reinforce the point, we're targeting the people, we're targeting the

15:25headquarters and the people who are targeting the protesters, you know, first and foremost.

15:29I'd also just double down on the President's comments that he previously made to the people,

15:33stay in your homes, keep things calm, you know, stay out of the way.

15:38There's a lot of U.S. and Israeli capacity coming over.

15:43We're hitting a lot of targets.

15:44The best thing for them to do for right now is just to lay low.

15:47Right here.

15:49One common outcome of American military action in the past has been taking in thousands of

15:55refugees into the American homeland, and I'm wondering if there's any safeguards put in

16:01place to make sure that the American people aren't having to have another wave of refugees

16:06from the Middle East or anywhere else come and stay here.

16:11I think it's safe to say there's no plan for a wave of new Middle Eastern refugees to

16:15the United States of America.

16:17I think as the President has pointed out for a long time, there are a lot of countries in

16:19the region who would be capable of providing that kind of support, if need be, but that's

16:26certainly not something we're planning on.

16:28Yep, back there.

16:50Well, as the President stated, it was unfortunate that the Brits didn't, from day one, say,

16:57hey, go ahead and have access, but we got there.

17:00We got there, and that's now part of the way that we're operationalizing bomber runs,

17:05and it's part of when we say more to come, it's more fighter squadrons, it's more capabilities,

17:10it's more defensive capabilities, and it's more bomber pulses more frequently.

17:15The amount of firepower over Iran and over Tehran is about to surge dramatically, and part

17:21of it is that we're going to have even more basing, and it's not just the UK.

17:24We've had other friends step up, and we're grateful for that.

17:28Maybe one more, right here.

17:29Yeah.

17:31The Azeri President earlier today basically authorized his Minister of Defense to begin preparing

17:35troops for some type of retaliatory action after the airport strike.

17:39Has the Department of War and CENTCOM been working on the conflict with the Azeri if they

17:43were to move in or attempt something in retaliation?

17:47I'm sure there are plans, and I'll let the Admiral speak to that, but that does allow

17:51me to kind of address this idea that the war might be expanding, or there's chaos, and nothing

17:57could be further from the truth.

17:59If anything, what Iran is doing by targeting allied countries that would otherwise want to

18:04stay out of this, they've actually pulled them into the American orbit.

18:07So now you've got UAE and Qatar and Bahrain and Saudi and Kuwait and others saying, hey,

18:13we're with you.

18:15We'll shoot with you.

18:16We'll fly with you.

18:17We'll defend with you.

18:19We'll allow you more basing and other opportunities, a lot of which we can't talk about and won't

18:23talk about.

18:24But it's actually firming up the unity of the resistance in order to focus exactly where

18:28we need to.

18:29So this idea that it's expanding or going, no, it's actually simplifying in a number

18:35of ways exactly what we need to achieve and how we'll achieve it.

18:38I don't know if you want to add to that.

18:39I won't get ahead of policy in terms of what we might do.

18:42What I will point out is this is now the 12th country that Iran has attacked.

18:4612 countries, and it goes right back to the Secretary's point.

18:49Those 12 countries are none too happy, and I look forward to working with all the partners

18:55who are willing to join us in this.

18:57And I would just close by saying...

18:58Mr. Secretary, one more question.

19:01Sure.

19:02What is your message to Americans who are concerned about security here at home with

19:07the change-up that we're going to see at the Department of Homeland Security?

19:09Well, I think Kristi Noem did an excellent job over there securing our border and keeping

19:15us focused on threats and the President making a change.

19:18We all serve the pleasure of the President.

19:20I'm sure Mark Wayne Mullen will do a fantastic job.

19:23He's been a friend of mine for a long time.

19:25But Kristi did a great job setting us up for success.

19:27So I don't have any concerns about whether or not the homeland will be covered down on.

19:31And I'll just end by saying I wish every American could get a chance to see what we see.

19:36I had a chance to go into the control room, into the tactical operations center, go see

19:41these young men and women that are doing this.

19:42The dedication that they show at every level, the way they've refined their craft.

19:47I'm talking to a young colonel who's iterating on how we target and how we find and fix different

19:54aspects of what the Iranians are trying to do.

19:56If they don't know what they're up against.

19:59And if they think they've got it solved for, they're wrong.

20:03And ultimately, the combination of our ingenuity, the skill, the professionalism, the discipline,

20:09and then the sheer weight of the capabilities of the U.S. military, what you're going to see

20:14may look routine.

20:16It may start to be like, oh, another boat.

20:18Oh, another launcher.

20:20Oh, another drone facility.

20:21What it takes to do this with the precision that we do is world-class.

20:26No one else can do it.

20:27And it's world-class Americans, like the ones I saw here, like the ones that are coming home

20:32that we're going to greet home, that are the engine of what makes our country great.

20:36And so I'm so grateful for folks like those here at CENTCOM, at Central Command, who are

20:41under your command.

20:42Thank you for your decisive leadership.

20:44And all I'll say to you is what I say to them, keep going.

20:47Because the President and myself, we have your back.

20:49Thank you, Admiral.

20:50Appreciate it.

20:50Thanks very much.

20:51Thank you all.

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