Hegseth on Iran:

We will finish this on “America First” conditions of President Trump’s choosing — nobody else’s, as it should be.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

This is not a single overnight operation.

We expect to take additional losses.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

Our mission is to protect and defend ourselves and, together with our regional partners, prevent Iran from projecting power outside its borders, and to be ready for follow-on actions as appropriate.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

The flow of forces continues today.

In fact, Admiral Cooper (CENTCOM) will receive additional forces even today.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

At 3:38 p.m. on Friday, February 27, United States Central Command, through the Secretary of War, received the final go order from President Trump.

The President directed, and I quote: “Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck.”

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

More than 100 aircraft launched from land and sea — fighters, tankers, airborne early warning and electronic attack aircraft, bombers from the United States, and unmanned platforms — forming a single synchronized wave.

This was a daylight strike based on a trigger event conducted by the Israeli Defense Forces and enabled by U.S. intelligence. The first shooters at sea were Tomahawks unleashed by the United States Navy. They closed in on Iranian naval forces and began conducting strikes across the southern flank in Iran.

On the ground, forces fired precision standoff weapons — measured, deliberate, precise, and lethal. This was a massive, overwhelming attack across all domains of warfare, striking more than a thousand targets in the first 24 hours.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

We are now roughly 57 hours into the operation, in the initial phase. CENTCOM’s focus has been the systematic targeting of Iranian command and control infrastructure, naval forces, ballistic missile sites, and intelligence infrastructure — designed to degrade and confuse them.

Coordinated space and cyber operations have effectively disrupted communications and sensor networks across the area of responsibility, leaving the adversary without the ability to see, coordinate, or respond effectively.

The combined impact of these swift, precise, and overwhelming strikes has resulted in the establishment of local air superiority.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

American B-2 bombers, which — similar to Operation Midnight Hammer — flew a 37-hour round-trip sortie from the continental United States, dropping precision penetrating munitions on Iranian underground facilities across the southern flank and slightly deeper.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

I am aware of the loss of three U.S. Air Force F-15Es overnight in the region.

I am grateful for the safety of the crews, and we know this was not the result of hostile enemy fire. As this matter is under investigation, I will not comment further.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

To those who would test our resolve or threaten the United States, our allies, or our interests, understand this clearly: we can reach you. We can sustain the fight, we can scale the fight, and we will prevail.

NEW: Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, the wife of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly died from her injuries following the recent attack on Iran.

Hegseth:

Even before this buildup in the last 30 days, we discreetly brought in defensive assets to account for Iranian capabilities.

As far as timelines go, I would never put a specific timeframe on it from our perspective. The commander-in-chief sets the tempo of this fight. As I said, it’s on his terms.

And we will make sure that Admiral Cooper and his team have everything they need — not just to defend. After all, the best defense is a good offense.

Reporter: Are there currently any American boots on the ground in Iran?

Hegseth: No. But we’re not going to get into an exercise of outlining what we will or will not do.

We will go as far as we need to go to advance American interests.

But you don’t have to send 200,000 people in and stay for 20 years.

Hegseth on Khamenei's death:

I think Israel did a great job.

BREAKING: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has barred the U.S. from using Spanish military bases for attacks on Iran.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

We have more tactical aviation flowing into the theater.

I think we’re just about where we want to be in terms of total combat capacity and total combat power for Admiral Cooper.

Fifteen U.S. aircraft — mostly refueling tankers — have since left Spain, heading to Germany and France.

Madrid says its bases cannot be used for operations outside bilateral agreements or international law.

CENTCOM releases new footage from the attacks on Iran.

Israel is bombing Lebanon.

Senator Graham on Iran:

Victory is in sight.

BIG: Goldman Sachs warns that if the Strait of Hormuz is shut for a month, European gas prices could jump up to 130%.