Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that an Iranian leader linked to an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has been killed in U.S. airstrikes. Hegseth confirmed the individual was part of a unit targeting Trump, though he did not name the person during a Pentagon briefing. The defense secretary emphasized that Iran’s attempt to harm Trump “got the last laugh” after the leader was eliminated. The attack on Trump, which occurred during the 2024 presidential race, had been a focus of national security warnings. Trump’s campaign had been informed that Iran had multiple kill teams operating within the U.S. The threat traces back to 2020, when Trump ordered an airstrike that killed General Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s top military commander. Hegseth stated that the current operation included the Iranian leader on a “target list” of individuals responsible for the plot. Hegseth highlighted the success of the joint U.S.-Israel bombing campaign, claiming the strikes have crippled Iran’s military capabilities. He described the operation as “Operation Eric Fury,” asserting that the U.S. is “winning decisively” and that Iran’s forces are “toast.” The campaign has already resulted in significant casualties, with at least 1,045 deaths reported in Iran and six U.S. service members killed. The strikes targeted Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command centers, including underground facilities tied to the country’s nuclear program. Missiles also struck the compound of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, killing several members of his family and 40 Iranian commanders, according to Israeli forces. General Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that over 2,000 targets have been hit, with more than 20 Iranian naval vessels destroyed.#iran #ayatollah_ali_khamenei #defense_secretary_pete_hegseth #iranian_leader #operation_eric_fury
