U.S. military forces have killed the leader of an Iranian unit that plotted to assassinate President Donald Trump, Pentagon officials confirmed Wednesday.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described the strike as part of a broader U.S.-Israeli campaign, Operation Epic Fury, aimed at crippling Iran’s missile, drone, naval, and nuclear capabilities.
“Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh,” Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing, emphasizing that the assassination threat was addressed opportunistically while the primary goal remained neutralizing broader dangers to Americans and allies.
He noted that the Pentagon has withheld the identity of the individual killed for operational security.
The campaign, launched on Saturday under U.S. Central Command, has targeted Iranian military assets, including missile launchers, drone facilities, command-and-control nodes, and leadership positions.
Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine reported that Iran’s theater ballistic missile launches have fallen 86 percent since the start of the operation, while drone attacks have decreased by more than 70 percent.
Over 2,000 Iranian targets have been struck, and more than 20 naval vessels destroyed.
A significant milestone included a U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine sinking an Iranian warship with a Mark 48 torpedo, marking the first such engagement of an enemy vessel since World War II.
Officials described these operations as defensive, aimed at maintaining freedom of navigation, securing strategic waterways, and protecting Americans from Iranian aggression, Newsmax reported.
The operation also considered past threats against Trump, including plots in 2024 targeting him on the campaign trail, retaliation for the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and an Iranian video in 2022 depicting an attack while he was golfing.
Hegseth stressed that while these assassination plots influenced planning, they were secondary to the broader campaign objectives.
Recent U.S. and Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of multiple high-ranking Iranian figures.
A separate Iranian attack on a Kuwaiti operations center killed six U.S. service members, including Capt. Cody Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, and Sgt. Declan Coady, highlighting the high stakes of ongoing operations in the region, according to The Post Millennial.
Officials emphasized that the campaign is defensive, focused on protecting U.S. personnel and allies while preventing Iran from advancing nuclear weapons programs.
Hegseth said the operation demonstrates America’s ability to act decisively to protect citizens and strategic interests abroad.
Caine added that precision strikes, combined with coordinated air and naval operations, have allowed U.S. and Israeli forces to rapidly degrade Iran’s operational capabilities while maintaining robust regional defense systems.
Pentagon officials also highlighted the strategic integration of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance in planning strikes, which allowed for targeted operations while minimizing collateral damage.
By carefully synchronizing air, sea, and ground assets, U.S. and Israeli forces were able to neutralize key nodes in Iran’s military infrastructure without triggering wider escalation.
Officials confirmed the targeted operative’s death as part of the opening phase of the campaign, sending a clear message to Iran’s leadership that threats to Americans will be met with decisive action.
The operation underscores the strength of the U.S.-Israeli partnership in countering missile, drone, and naval threats and reinforces America’s commitment to defending its citizens and allies abroad.
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