US President Donald Trump said on Monday that US forces would press ahead with “ferocious, unyielding resolve” to “eliminate the intolerable threat posed by this sick and sinister regime” in Iran, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that “the hardest hits are yet to come”.
“We projected for four to five weeks, but we have the capability to go longer than that,” Trump said, adding: “We’re already substantially ahead of our time projection”.
In his speech on Monday at a White House ceremony, Trump appeared to respond to critics when he outlined the goals of “Operation Epic Fury” unleashed Saturday against Iran, along with America’s Middle East ally Israel.
“Our objectives are clear,” said the US leader, indicating that his country aims to destroy Iran's missile capabilities, annihilate its navy, “ensuring the world's number one sponsor of terror can never obtain a nuclear weapon”, and to make sure “the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside their border”.
Trump claimed that “this was our last best chance to strike” Iran.
The conflict between the US, Israel and Iran widened on Monday, its third day, as Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and US bases and Gulf states following the death of Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, even as Israel struck Lebanon after attacks by Hezbollah.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Net
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