Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared Tuesday, March 10, the 'most intense day of strikes' inside Iran, deploying the largest number of fighters, bombers, and precision munitions yet in the 11-day-old war. Speaking at the Pentagon, Hegseth said U.S. intelligence was 'more refined and better than ever,' targeting Iran's remaining missile production, naval assets, and nuclear infrastructure under Operation Epic Fury.

Explosions rocked Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, and Kish Island as U.S. and Israeli forces struck command centers, oil facilities, and IRGC sites. The Pentagon reported destroying over 50 Iranian naval vessels, including 10 mine-laying boats, and degrading ballistic missile capabilities by more than 90 percent. Hegseth emphasized that Iran's proxies, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas, were 'broken, ineffective, or on the sidelines,' leaving Tehran isolated.

The conflict erupted on February 28 when U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior officials, targeting military sites in Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, and other cities to prevent nuclear weapon development and achieve regime change. Iran retaliated with Operation True Promise IV, firing missiles and drones at Israel, U.S. bases, and Gulf allies like the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

Iranian officials vowed to fully blockade the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of global oil flows, until attacks cease, prompting volatile energy markets. U.S. crude prices hit $119 per barrel before dipping to $86 after President Donald Trump predicted the war would end 'very soon.' Trump warned Iran against mining the strait, threatening retaliation '20 times harder,' while sending mixed signals: the war was 'very much complete,' but the U.S. had not 'won enough.'

Casualties mounted, with Iranian sources reporting over 1,200 deaths from coalition strikes, including 168 children in a Minab school attack under U.S. investigation. The U.S. confirmed seven to nine service members killed and about 140 wounded, mostly lightly; regional tolls included 570 in Lebanon and dozens in Gulf states. Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader amid leadership decapitation efforts.

Allies intercepted Iranian projectiles, with NATO aiding Turkey, and G7 nations discussing oil reserve releases. Hegseth stressed the campaign would not drag on like past wars, vowing to end on America's timeline with Iran's 'complete and unconditional surrender.'