The United States signaled Monday that its ongoing military campaign against Iran could extend for several weeks, as American forces continue extensive strikes alongside Israeli operations.

U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that while the offensive began over the weekend, its duration remains flexible and dependent on operational developments.

U.S. forces launched large-scale attacks on Saturday, targeting hundreds of sites across Iran, including missile systems, naval assets, and command-and-control facilities, according to Pentagon officials. The strikes marked one of the most significant escalations in direct U.S. military action against Tehran in recent years.

Hegseth declined to outline a fixed timeline for the campaign.

“I think it’s one of those fallacies that this department or presidents should tell the American people and our enemies exactly what we’ll do or how long we’ll go,” he said.
When asked how long the conflict might last, he added:

“Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks — it could move up. It could move back.”
Not “Another Iraq,” U.S. Says
Hegseth sought to differentiate the current operation from previous prolonged U.S. engagements such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, emphasizing that Washington is not pursuing nation-building or political transformation inside Iran.

“This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” he said. “We fight to win and we don’t waste time or lives.”
He described the campaign as limited in scope and focused on defending U.S. interests and regional allies rather than reshaping Iran’s internal political system.

Joining the briefing, General Dan Caine, the United States’ top military officer, stated that American forces had already established localized air superiority over parts of Iran following the initial wave of strikes.

“This air superiority will not only enhance the protection of our forces but also allow them to continue operations over Iran,” Caine said.

The remarks come amid rapidly escalating regional tensions following coordinated U.S. and Israeli military actions that have significantly intensified confrontation with Tehran. Analysts warn that further escalation could draw in additional regional actors and widen the conflict beyond its current scope.

U.S. officials maintain that the operation is designed to degrade Iranian military capabilities and deter further threats, while avoiding a prolonged ground engagement.

No official casualty figures or damage assessments have yet been released by either side.