Hegseth: “We Have Only Just Begun” U.S. Expands War With Iran as Senate Backs Trump’s Military Campaign
The U.S. military campaign against Iran is widening rapidly, and according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the conflict is only entering its early phase. At a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth declared the United States is winning the war so far and warned that American forces are prepared to sustain operations indefinitely as the conflict expands across the region.
“We have only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralize, destroy and defeat their capabilities just four days in.” — Pete Hegseth
The remarks came as the Trump administration confirmed a major escalation at sea, including a U.S. submarine torpedo strike that sank an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka, far from the Persian Gulf battlefield that has dominated the early phase of the war. The move signals the conflict is no longer confined to the Middle East.
A War Spreading Across Multiple Fronts
U.S. officials confirmed that an American submarine sank an Iranian vessel off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 people aboard the ship and rescuing dozens more. The strike represents one of the most significant naval escalations of the conflict so far and demonstrates the global reach of the U.S. military campaign.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil choke points — has been severely disrupted, sending shockwaves through global energy markets and raising fears of broader economic fallout. Meanwhile, U.S. airstrikes continue across Iran as the Pentagon moves to push deeper into Iranian territory.
“We will now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory and creating additional freedom of manoeuvre for U.S. forces.” — Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Military planners say the strategy is designed to cripple Iran’s missile infrastructure, air defenses, and command networks before Tehran can mount a sustained retaliation.
The Message From Washington: This War Is Not Ending Soon
Hegseth made clear that U.S. and allied forces are prepared for a prolonged campaign.
“Our air defences and that of our allies have plenty of runway. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to.”
He also emphasized that the imbalance in military power was intentional.
“This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight. We are punching them while they’re down.”
Despite the heavy strikes, U.S. officials acknowledge Iran still retains the ability to launch missile attacks, leaving American troops and regional allies exposed. Gen. Caine warned that U.S. forces “remain in harm’s way” as the conflict intensifies.
Senate Blocks Effort to Limit Trump’s War Powers
Back in Washington, an effort by Democrats, joined by a handful of Republicans, to limit the president’s authority to wage war against Iran failed in the Senate. Lawmakers voted 53–47 to block a resolution that would have required congressional authorization for continued hostilities. The vote effectively allows the Trump administration to continue the military campaign without immediate legislative constraints. Before the vote, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned the country could be sliding into another long Middle East conflict.
“Today every senator will pick a side — do you stand with the American people who are exhausted with forever wars, or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?” — Chuck Schumer
The resolution was rooted in the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a law designed to prevent presidents from entering prolonged conflicts without congressional approval. Under that law, military action without authorization must generally end within 60 days, unless Congress votes to approve the war.
However, political realities make that outcome unlikely. Overriding a presidential veto would require a two-thirds majority in Congress, a threshold few analysts believe lawmakers could reach.
Iran Shows No Signs of Backing Down
Even as U.S. and Israeli forces press the attack, Iran’s leadership appears to be consolidating rather than collapsing. The powerful son of the slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has emerged as a leading contender to replace his father, signaling that Tehran is preparing for a prolonged confrontation rather than negotiating a quick surrender.
The war has already killed hundreds across the region, rattled financial markets, and disrupted major global shipping routes. And according to the Pentagon, the next phase of the conflict may involve deeper strikes inside Iran and potentially even broader military deployments. For now, the message coming out of Washington is unmistakable: the war is escalating, not winding down.
