'The mission is advancing decisively,' Hegseth says of Operation Epic Fury

TAMPA, Fla. (TNND) — Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury -- which is the major U.S. military campaign targeting Iranian military and strategic infrastructure -- "is advancing decisively."

"Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation for the IRGC in Iran," Hegseth said on Thursday during a joint news conference with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper at CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

"Our commitment to our mission objectives only increases as our advantages continue to increase," he added. "We've got no shortage of munitions. Our stockpiles of defensive and offensive weapons allow us to sustain this campaign as long as we need to. Again, our munitions status only increases as our advantage increases. Our capabilities? We have only just begun to fight and fight decisively."

Cooper, who described Operation Epic Fury as "a historic mission to eliminate Iran's ability to threaten Americans," said America's bomber force hit nearly 200 targets in Iran, including around Tehran, during the last 72 hours alone.

Cooper also said U.S. B-2 bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound Penetrator bombs targeting "deeply buried" ballistic missile launchers, as well as hit the nation's equivalent to Space Command.

"We are at full-speed ahead in executing orders given by leadership in Washington,” Cooper said "The president and Secretary Hegseth have been crystal clear in their expectations and we are at a high-level of execution.

The media briefing was held soon after the House voted to block a war powers resolution aimed at stopping President Donald Trump's ongoing strikes on Iran.

Lawmakers rejected the measure 212-219, marking the second failed effort in two days after the Senate defeated a similar resolution largely along party lines.

The vote offered a clear snapshot of where members stand on the U.S.-Israel military operation and on Trump’s decision to move forward without a formal declaration of war from Congress, which holds constitutional authority to declare war.

Republican Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, who is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, publicly thanked Trump for taking action against Iran, saying the president is using his own constitutional authority to defend the U.S. against the “imminent threat” the country posed.

Trump previously said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during the initial strikes, which started on Saturday.

"Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead," Trump recently wrote on Truth Social.

"This is not only justice for the people of Iran, but for all great Americans, and those people from many countries throughout the world, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS," the president added.

Trump said Khamenei was "unable to avoid" U.S. Intelligence and "highly sophisticated" tracking systems amid the strikes.

"Working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do," Trump wrote. "This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country."

He also said "the heavy and pinpoint bombing" will continue "uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!"

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EDITOR'S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.