March 31, 2026 (New York time) – Secretary of War Pete Hegseth released images from a secret half-day visit to U.S. soldiers currently deployed in Iran, highlighting their combat spirit and operational speed at a "wartime" level.
The trip took place on Saturday but was only revealed later during a press conference at the Pentagon. In the published images, Hegseth appeared at a forward base, shaking hands with soldiers, speaking with units, and communicating directly with pilots preparing for airstrike missions.
“I witnessed warriors – a tight-knit camaraderie of men and women, all of them warriors,” he wrote.
According to him, as soon as the C-17 aircraft landed, ground forces approached and began unloading in just tens of seconds – reflecting a wartime tempo with a requirement for maximum acceleration.
On the ground, he noted a common message from the units:
- Increase operational speed
- Heighten activity intensity
- Maintain continuous pressure on targets
The Secretary of War stated that the current force's morale differs from previous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where soldiers often faced long rotations without a clear end date.
He emphasized that the current campaign has clear objectives, shorter deployment times, and an intense focus on the mission.
The visit comes as the Donald Trump administration asserts the Iran campaign will not last for many years like previous conflicts, despite concerns about potential quagmires.
Hegseth's remarks aim to reinforce the administration's message that the campaign is being controlled in terms of tempo and objectives, while maintaining high morale among frontline forces.
