Iran resisting US-Israel assault but not exceeding Pentagon expectations, general says
US military officials report over 50 Iranian naval vessels destroyed in first 10 days of conflict; Iran rejects ceasefire overtures from Trump envoy.
March 10, 2026 at 05:12 PM
America's highest-ranking military officer said Tuesday that while Iran's military is actively resisting the joint US-Israel assault on the Islamic Republic, Tehran's forces are not proving more formidable than Pentagon planners anticipated.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon that Iran is fighting but not exceeding expectations. "I think they're fighting, and I respect that, but I don't think they're more formidable than what we thought," Caine said when asked about Iran's military response to US operations.
The US military has struck more than 5,000 targets across Iran in the first 10 days of the conflict, which began February 28 with "Operation Epic Fury." During the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes, Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed. The campaign has deployed more than 20 weapons systems across air, land, and sea operations.
Caine highlighted the destruction of Iranian naval assets, stating that the US has sunk more than 50 of Iran's naval vessels in the opening 10 days of the war. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared Tuesday that the 11th day of operations would see the "most intense day of strikes" yet against the Islamic Republic.
Hegseth stated that US objectives include destroying Iran's missile stockpiles, missile launchers and the ability to manufacture them; destroying Tehran's navy; and permanently denying Iran nuclear weapons. "We are winning with an overwhelming and unrelenting focus on our objective," Hegseth said at a Pentagon press conference, adding that the conflict will conclude "on our timeline and at our choosing."
Defense officials have expressed confidence in the sustainability of the campaign. Hegseth said during a visit to US Central Command in Florida that "We've got no shortage of munitions" and that "Our stockpiles of defensive and offensive weapons allow us to sustain this campaign as long as we need." Caine made similar assurances, stating "We have sufficient precision munitions for the task at hand, both on the offense and defense."
President Donald Trump has said the conflict could last four to five weeks, but that the US has the "capability to go far longer than that."
Iran has rejected ceasefire proposals from Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a unilateral US declaration of victory would not end the conflict. Iran is instead insisting on a permanent deal that includes a US commitment not to attack Iran again, according to officials familiar with Tehran's position.
Meanwhile, more than 100 Iranians living in the UK, including former political prisoner Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, have urged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to become further involved in the conflict. In a letter to Starmer, the signatories argued that the way the war is being conducted is strengthening the regime in Tehran rather than weakening it.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has faced criticism from within Germany and among European partners for his silence and perceived deference to Trump during a public appearance at the White House on Tuesday. The criticism reflects broader European concerns about maintaining US support for Ukraine while managing relations with the Trump administration.