War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday denounced the effort to impeach him as a "farce" during a rare Pentagon news briefing, defending the Trump administration's military operations against Iran and other targets as lawful and successful on the eve of Veterans Day.

Hegseth said 18 Americans had died during Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, and accused lawmakers pursuing his impeachment of disrespecting the service members who carried out the missions. He said he had visited Dover Air Force Base, where fallen American troops are returned to the United States, and that their sacrifices strengthened the military's resolve.

"We know their names. I've been to Dover. We honor them every day. But their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve," Hegseth said.

The briefing came one day after Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced eight updated articles of impeachment against Hegseth. The resolution accuses the War Secretary of conducting military operations against Iran without congressional authorization, disregarding laws intended to protect civilians, overseeing lethal strikes against suspected drug smugglers, and retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), among other allegations.

Massie has argued that the issue is whether Hegseth violated the law and Constitution, rather than whether the military operations were effective. The resolution also addresses U.S. operations in Venezuela and Yemen, including the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and military strikes against Houthi militants.

While Hegseth was speaking, Massie said on X that the House would first consider a procedural motion intended to block the resolution, potentially by referring it to a committee. If that effort fails, Massie said lawmakers would proceed to debate and vote on the articles of impeachment.

Hegseth rejected the accusations, saying the operations were ordered by President Donald Trump, communicated to Congress and carried out lawfully. He also denied that American forces deliberately target civilians, calling such allegations an insult to the service members involved.

"As to the claim that the American military targets civilians, well, that is a lie. And that is a slander against every professional who flew, sailed, and fought on these missions," he said.

Defending Operation Epic Fury, Hegseth described the campaign as a historic military victory achieved in fewer than 40 days of sustained combat. He said American forces struck more than 13,000 targets and destroyed more than 80% of Iran's nuclear industrial base. He also maintained that the U.S. blockade remained in place and American forces controlled the Strait of Hormuz. Those figures and assessments were presented by Hegseth during the briefing.

"History will judge the Iran war quite differently than conventional wisdom right now," he said, crediting Trump with making difficult decisions despite the political consequences.

"He did the tough, right thing, not for politics, but for the safety and the security of the American people. That's leadership. He did not kick the can," Hegseth said. "He kicked their teeth in."

Hegseth also defended the operation that captured Maduro, saying it lasted 48 minutes without American fatalities. He pointed to military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels, claiming the operations had sharply reduced maritime trafficking. He further highlighted increased danger pay, the reinstatement of more than 600 service members discharged under the previous administration's COVID-19 vaccination mandate, and what he described as historic military recruiting results.

The War Secretary characterized the impeachment effort as politically motivated and driven by Massie's personal grievances and disagreements with administration policy. He argued that lawmakers should address disagreements through legislation, public debate and elections rather than targeting military leadership.

"It puts a target on the backs of American warriors by signaling that Congress will undermine their missions in real time. This is not patriotism," Hegseth said. "This is sabotage."

The impeachment effort has drawn opposition from Republican leadership, while some Democrats have voiced support. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called himself a "hard yes" on impeachment, describing Hegseth as the architect of what he called a reckless and costly war in Iran. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) opposed the effort during ongoing military hostilities, telling CBS News that impeachment would be a "terrible, terrible look."

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said he was still considering the matter, questioning whether Hegseth's performance as secretary justified impeachment. "I don't think he's been a good secretary, but do you impeach a guy for that?" Bacon said.

Trump pledged Monday to stand by Hegseth, calling Massie a "stone-cold loser." Hegseth also compared the impeachment effort to the two impeachments Trump faced during his first presidency, both of which ended in Senate acquittals.

"Now, they're trying a third time, this time against a member of his Cabinet. They will fail again. And if standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I'll take that company every day of the week," Hegseth said.

Massie's resolution requires House leaders to schedule action within two legislative days. Even if the House approves impeachment, Hegseth would not be removed from office unless the Senate subsequently convicted him by a two-thirds majority.