US-Iran Ceasefire Declared But Pentagon Vows to Keep Troops and Bombers Ready for More

The Trump administration is spinning the new two-week ceasefire with Iran as a major win, but make no mistake: the U.S. military is not packing up and going home anytime soon. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared the ceasefire a “historic military victory” during an April 8 Pentagon briefing, while Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine emphasized that American forces remain “ready” to resume combat operations immediately if the ceasefire expires without a longer peace deal.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Hegseth said bluntly. The U.S. will maintain its massive troop, aircraft, and weapons presence in Europe and the Middle East—the largest buildup of airpower since the 2003 Iraq invasion—until Iran complies with the ceasefire and agrees to a broader deal.

Pentagon officials boasted that Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. air campaign against Iran, achieved its objectives of crippling Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities, sinking most of its navy, and severely damaging its defense industry and nuclear program. Gen. Caine rattled off staggering statistics: over 13,000 targets struck, 80 percent of Iran’s air defenses destroyed, more than 90 percent of its navy sunk, and nearly 80 percent of its nuclear industrial base hit.

The Air Force played a major role, flying 62 bomber missions including 18 nonstop roundtrips from bases in the continental U.S. B-2 stealth bombers launched from Missouri, while B-1 and B-52 bombers staged from the U.K. for long-range sorties. The Pentagon also deployed a wide array of fighters, tankers, reconnaissance drones, and electronic warfare aircraft to support the operation.

Despite the ceasefire announcement, Iranian strikes continued on April 7, underscoring the fragile nature of the agreement. Hegseth warned that Iran would be wise to comply or face renewed strikes, including potentially more operations like the June 2025 “Midnight Hammer” raid that targeted deeply buried nuclear facilities.

The Trump administration’s insistence on maintaining a heavy military footprint and readiness to restart attacks reveals a strategy of sustained pressure rather than genuine de-escalation. This ceasefire is at best a pause in a broader campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities by force if necessary.

For all the triumphant rhetoric, the U.S. is setting the stage for continued conflict in the Middle East. The Pentagon’s “historic victory” may only be the prelude to more violence and instability, as the Trump administration refuses to back down or pursue diplomacy in earnest.

[Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine]