Mar 2 • 13:56 UTC 🇶🇦 Qatar Al Jazeera

U.S. War Secretary: Iran is not Iraq, and we will not fall into the quagmire of nation-building

The U.S. War Secretary emphasized that military operations against Iran will not lead to a never-ending war and that the U.S. will avoid getting involved in nation-building efforts.

In a press conference, U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that military operations against Iran are not meant to become an unending conflict, distinctly marking a departure from past engagements in Iraq. He insisted that the U.S. will not engage in futile nation-building efforts, emphasizing that the current military action is not about regime change; he argued that the regime has already changed for the better following the assassination of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei.

Hegseth highlighted that the operations conducted by the U.S. aim to be precise and effective, with clearly defined objectives that do not involve ground troop deployments in Iran. He claimed to have faith in the operational capacity of the U.S. military, stating that Washington is ready to escalate its military efforts as needed. This statement underscores a shift in U.S. military strategy, focusing on targeted strikes rather than large-scale invasions.

Conversely, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Dan Ken acknowledged that achieving goals within Iran would require time and warned of potential casualties among American forces. His comments suggest that while the U.S. is prepared for proactive military action, there are hesitations regarding the long-term consequences of such operations, indicating a careful balance between aggression and readiness for inevitable conflict.

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