Washington, DC, March 8 — U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a blunt warning on social media, saying the United States will respond lethally to anyone who targets American citizens. The message, shared by U.S. Central Command on X, said in part: ‘If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you.’
A 21-second clip posted alongside the statement showed unclassified footage of vehicles and structures being struck and destroyed by U.S. forces, underscoring the administration’s message about current military reach.
Hegseth’s remarks came amid similar comments from President Donald Trump. Traveling to Miami on Air Force One, the President said U.S. operations had removed what he called a ‘cancer’ from the global stage and described the campaign as progressing well. Trump said U.S. forces were ‘winning the war by a lot’ and praised what he called significant tactical gains.
The President claimed U.S. strikes had severely degraded Iran’s capabilities, asserting that the navy, air force and much of its missile and drone capacity had been destroyed. He said missiles were being launched far less frequently and that many manufacturing and launch facilities had been hit hard.
Asked about reports that an elementary girls’ school in Iran had been bombed, Trump denied U.S. responsibility and attributed the incident to Iranian munitions failures and inaccuracy. On the mission’s duration he declined to set a timetable, saying only that he would do ‘whatever it takes’ and that Iran’s military was close to collapse, while leaving open the possibility of additional strikes.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters a diplomatic resolution remained possible but ultimately depended on White House decisions. He said earlier negotiations had stalled over Tehran’s stance on enrichment and that Iran had not appeared willing to compromise in initial talks.
The recent statements follow a joint U.S.-Israel operation on February 28 that, according to the report, killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials. In retaliation, Iran reportedly launched drones and ballistic missiles at U.S. assets and regional partners, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Those exchanges have heightened risks for civilians and expatriates across the region.
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