Hegseth defends $200 billion funding request in Iran war update

by · UPI

March 19 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the Pentagon will make a $200 billion budget request from Congress for the war in Iran.

During a press briefing at the Pentagon with Gen. Dan Caine on the war, Hegseth defended the request, telling reporters "It takes money to kill bad guys." He added that the $200 billion figure "could move" but did not clarify in which direction.

"We're going to go back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition is refilled and not just refilled but above and beyond," Hegseth said.

On Face The Nation on Sunday, Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett said the war had already cost the United States $12 billion.

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Caine said the focus of many recent strikes has been to target underground facilities and Iran's network of tunnels.

"Each day we continue to attack deeper into Iranian territory," Caine said. "As reported by U.S. Central Command, the U.S. military dropped 5,000-pound penetrator weapons into underground storage facilities storing coastal defense cruise missiles and other support equipment."

The United States has struck about 7,000 targets through its air operation, the secretary said. Thursday will again be an escalation of the operation which he said will be the "largest strike package yet."

"Just as I've said from day one, our capabilities continue to build, Iran's continue to degrade," Hegseth said. "We're hunting and striking. Death and destruction from above."

Hegseth claimed that Iran's defenses have been "flattened" and hundreds of munitions supply factories have been destroyed. Ballistic missiles and drone capabilities have decreased by 90% and more than 120 Iranian naval ships have been sunk.

Hegseth opened the briefing discussing Wednesday's dignified transfer of six soldiers killed in combat before transitioning to chiding reporters as he has in previous press briefings.

"A dishonest and anti-Trump press will stop at nothing -- to downplay progress, amplify every cost and call into question every step."

The secretary did not confine his criticism to the press. He called U.S. allies in Europe "ungrateful," adding that they, like the press, should be saying "thank you" to President Donald Trump.

Hegseth disputed concerns that the war would be drawn out.

"Epic Fury is different. It's laser focused," he said. "Our objectives, given directly from our America-first president remain exactly what they were on day one."

Those objectives are to destroy Iran's missiles and launchers, navy, defense industrial base and prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, Hegseth said.

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President Donald Trump greets Prime Minster Takeuchi Sanae of Japan in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo