Hegseth Makes Secret Middle East Trip To Visit Troops On Front Lines Of Operation Epic Fury

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed Tuesday that he recently traveled to multiple U.S. military bases across the Middle East in an undisclosed visit aimed at meeting troops and observing ongoing combat operations tied to Operation Epic Fury.

Hegseth said the trip was kept confidential for security reasons, emphasizing that identifying specific locations could put service members at risk. He described the visit as an opportunity to see firsthand the intensity of operations and the level of coordination across different branches of the military.

During a press briefing, Hegseth praised the troops he encountered, pointing to a strong sense of unity among active duty personnel, National Guard members, and reservists. He highlighted their shared mission and commitment as a defining feature of what he witnessed on the ground.

Following the trip, Hegseth shared images on social media and recounted conversations with service members involved in a range of missions, including strike operations and defensive efforts against incoming threats such as drones and missiles.

He described speaking with Air Force and Navy pilots actively engaged in combat missions over Iran, noting that some had just returned from sorties targeting key locations while also defending their bases from aerial threats. Hegseth said he even communicated directly with a flight crew inside a cockpit preparing for operations.

The defense secretary also pointed to discussions with Army personnel working on new tactics to counter missile threats, as well as intelligence officers responsible for identifying and prioritizing targets in the ongoing campaign.

At the same briefing, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine provided an update on the scale of operations, stating that U.S. forces have struck more than 11,000 targets since the conflict began in late February.

Caine added that the Air Force has expanded its role with long-range B-52 missions and that naval operations have significantly weakened Iranian capabilities, with more than 150 vessels reportedly destroyed as the campaign continues to intensify.