Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is set to visit the US Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Tampa, Florida, to receive operational updates on the ongoing military campaign against Iran. Hegseth will meet with CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper at MacDill Air Force Base, where US forces are conducting Operation Epic Fury, targeting Iran’s security and military infrastructure.
The Pentagon announced that the visit is scheduled for Thursday, March 5. Operation Epic Fury, launched last week, aims to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus and neutralize immediate threats. The operation involves extensive strikes against Iranian military assets, with over 2,000 precision munitions launched from air, land, and sea in the first four days.
Hegseth’s visit to CENTCOM coincides with increased military coordination across regional commands. Additionally, he will convene a hemispheric security meeting in Florida to address issues related to drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The Americas Counter Cartel Conference, hosted by Hegseth at the US Southern Command Headquarters, will bring together defence and security leaders from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America to combat drug trafficking.
The Pentagon highlighted the growing security threat posed by organised criminal groups in the Western Hemisphere. Designating narco-traffickers and cartels as Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTOs) allows the US military to enhance its efforts in countering these networks. The conference aims to strengthen security cooperation in the region to detect, disrupt, and dismantle terrorist organisations fueling violence and corruption.
