(NewsNation) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth went on the offensive Thursday over a leaked intelligence report contradicting the White House’s claims about damage caused by U.S. strikes in Iran.
During a news briefing, Hegseth discussed a preliminary ***essment from the Defense Intelligence Agency that said the strikes set back Iran by only a few months — despite President Donald Trump’s claims that “Operation Midnight Hammer” obliterated Iran’s nuclear program.
Hegseth slammed the media, which he said was “irresponsible” in their reporting while working against the Trump administration’s success.
Hegseth: Iran damage report meant to downplay military success
Hegseth told reporters Thursday he believes the report was leaked because “someone had an agenda to try and muddy the waters and make it look like this historic strike wasn’t successful.”
In a statement to NewsNation, the DIA called its report a “preliminary, low confidence ***essment” and clarified officials “have still not been able to review the actual physical sites themselves, which will give us the best indication.”
Trump has blasted CNN, the New York Times and other outlets as “fake news” for reporting on the ***essment, a sentiment Hegseth echoed during Thursday’s news briefing.
The president and his top defense official have claimed coverage of the report disparaged U.S. military personnel involved in the attacks.
The DIA report did not take aim at military personnel — it simply outlined what worked, and what didn’t, in the airstrikes.
Still, the administration is doubling down.
“There was a total and complete obliteration of Iran’s nuclear facilities,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “And because of the president’s strike, because of the precision of our United States military and this perfectly executed mission, Iran no longer has the capability to produce a nuclear weapon as imminently as they did prior to the strike.”
Military official describes Iranian missile attack on US base
At Thursday’s briefing, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, detailed the Iranian missile attacks on Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
He said roughly 44 American service members responsible for defending the base were present when rounds of Patriot missiles were launched.
Caine said Qatar joined in the defense of what he called the largest single patriot engagement in U.S. military history.
Upon returning to base, Caine said, “There were a lot of flags and a lot of tears.”
Trump praises Hegseth’s news conference
Minutes after the event finished, Trump took to Truth Social to praise Hegseth and Caine for their addresses.
“One of the greatest, most professional, and most ‘confirming’ News Conferences I have ever seen! The Fake News should fire everyone involved in this Witch Hunt, and apologize to our great warriors, and everyone else!” Trump wrote in a post.
Senate to hold cl***ified briefing on Iran attacks
Senators are scheduled to receive a cl***ified briefing Thursday afternoon about the operation.
“Now, they’re trying to get away with sending only the secretary of state and defense … instead of the usual intelligence officials who attend the briefings,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., regarding the briefing.
Schumer said the pair of top Trump officials would provide a “woefully insufficient” briefing.
“If they are the only ones in attendance, they will only parrot whatever the president wants them to say,” he said.
Senior officials from the CIA and National Intelligence have said new intelligence shows the strikes did far more damage than originally reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source link
https://findsuperdeals.shop/
