Washington, April 7 (IANS) The CIA used deception tactics and advanced intelligence tools to locate a downed US airman deep inside Iran, playing a critical role in a high-risk rescue mission that US officials said left Iranian forces “confused” and “humiliated.” CIA Director John Ratcliffe told reporters at a White House news conference that the agency worked to both find the airman and mislead Iranian forces searching for him.“We needed to locate the downed aviator as quickly as possi…
Latest Pete Hegseth News & Updates
Washington, April 7 (IANS) The operation to rescue fighter pilots projected military dominance, with top officials asserting that it demonstrated unmatched capability and warning adversaries of America’s reach. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the mission showed why the US has “the greatest fighting force the world has ever known.”“In two extraordinary combat search and rescue operations deep inside enemy territory in Iran, our warriors executed missions of breathtaking skill, c…
Washington, April 4 (IANS) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will travel to Washington, DC from April 8 to 12, where he is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump and other senior officials, according to a statement shared by a NATO spokesperson.The spokesperson said that on April 8, Rutte will hold talks with Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.The visit will also include a public engagement on April 9, when Rutte is expected to deliver a speech and …
Washington, April 2 (IANS) US President Donald Trump will use his national address to provide an operational update on “Operation Epic Fury,” which is “meeting or exceeding all of its benchmarks,” a White House official told IANS, as Washington signals steady progress toward its core military objectives in the conflict with Iran.The White House said Trump’s address, scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (Thursday morning 6.30 a.m. local India time), will outline progress in a campaign that has now e…
Washington, April 1 (IANS): US President Donald Trump Wednesday said Iran’s new leadership has sought a ceasefire with the United States, even as he signalled continued military pressure until key maritime conditions are met. In a post on social media, Trump claimed that Iran’s current president had reached out amid ongoing hostilities. “Iran’s New Regime President, much less radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a cea…
Washington, April 1 (IANS) US President Donald Trump will address the nation on Wednesday night (Thursday morning, India time) with an update on the ongoing conflict with Iran, the White House said, as fighting involving the US and Israel enters its second month. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the address, saying: “Tune In: Tomorrow night at 9 PM ET, President Trump will give an Address to the Nation to provide an important update on Iran.” This would be his first add…
Washington, April 1 (IANS) The US Department of War has struck a seven-year agreement with Boeing and Lockheed Martin to more than triple production capacity of a critical component used in Patriot missile systems, aiming to strengthen supply chains and accelerate delivery of air defence capabilities. The agreement focuses on ramping up production of “seekers” for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE), a key element that enables precision targetting.Offi…
Washington, March 31 (IANS) The United States on Tuesday said it is intensifying military strikes on Iran while pursuing active negotiations, as officials argued that battlefield pressure is forcing Tehran towards a deal. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at a Pentagon news conference said talks with Iran were “very real… ongoing… active and… gaining strength”, even as US forces continued operations under “Operation Epic Fury”.“We don’t want to have to do more militarily than we h…
Washington, March 31 (IANS) US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday said that Washington has already taken steps to “set the conditions” to keep the Strait of Hormuz operational, even as military operations against Iran continue. “There are many more vessels flowing through today than there were,” Hegseth said told reporters at a Pentagon news conference here, adding that the US had made clear to Iran to “open it for business or… we have options.”He stressed that the Strait of…
Washington, March 31 (IANS) US troops deployed in the Middle East are showing strong motivation to accelerate operations against Iran, with many calling for intensified strikes to quickly conclude the conflict, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said. Describing a recent visit to frontline units, Hegseth said he witnessed “sheer mission focus” and a shared determination among service members to complete the mission.“What those Americans said to me… was let’s finish the mission. Get us even…