Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and senior Trump administration officials briefed congressional leaders Monday evening on the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury. The closed-door session with chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees came hours after Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine held a public Pentagon news conference addressing the operation's progress and objectives.

The strikes, which began Saturday, targeted hundreds of Iranian sites, including missile facilities, naval headquarters, and warships, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and prompting Iran to announce interim leadership. Iranian state media reported Khamenei's wife later died from injuries sustained in the attacks. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said at least 555 people were killed inside Iran, with additional deaths in Israel and Lebanon.

Four U.S. service members have died in the conflict so far, with both Hegseth and Caine warning of more casualties ahead. A friendly fire incident saw Kuwait shoot down three American F-15E jets on Sunday, though all six pilots ejected safely. Iranian-backed militias have since launched missiles at U.S. targets, Israel, and Arab states, widening the regional fighting.

During the morning Pentagon briefing, Hegseth rejected comparisons to past U.S. wars, declaring, "This is not Iraq. This is not endless." He emphasized a "clear, devastating, decisive mission" to destroy Iran's missiles, navy, and nuclear capabilities, adding, "No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win, and we don't waste time or lives." Hegseth clarified the strikes were not aimed at regime change, though he noted, "This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change and the world is better off for it."

The operation utilized B-2 stealth bombers on 37-hour missions and cyber tools to disrupt Iranian communications. President Trump authorized it on Friday afternoon en route to Texas. Trump has suggested it could last four to five weeks, but Hegseth said the timeline remains flexible under presidential discretion.

Tensions on Capitol Hill are high as Democrats, led by Sen. Tim Kaine, prepare to force a vote Thursday on a war powers resolution requiring congressional approval for further hostilities. Critics question the strikes' justification, citing Sunday staff briefings where officials acknowledged no specific intelligence of an imminent Iranian attack. Republicans have largely backed the action, with Sen. Ted Cruz stating there was no sign Iran was near nuclear weapons.

A fuller briefing for all members of Congress is set for Tuesday, featuring Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Caine, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The administration frames the campaign as retribution for Iran's 47-year campaign against America via proxies, missiles, and nuclear ambitions, claiming prior strikes last summer already crippled Tehran's atomic program.