President Trump issued a video statement saying combat operations are continuing at full strength and will persist until the administration’s objectives are met. He spoke after Operation Epic Fury, in which three American service members were killed, and paid tribute to those who lost their lives.
The president defended the strikes as necessary and said the campaign would go on. He acknowledged that additional casualties are likely before the campaign ends while stressing efforts to minimize further loss of life. In material cited by the White House, he described the operation as operating on a roughly four week timeline.
On television, Republican Senator Tom Cotton said further strikes were likely but argued a large scale U.S. ground invasion of Iran was unlikely, noting the administration has not put forward a plan for such an operation.
Senior U.S. officials told reporters they had seen signs that Iran had intended to use ballistic missiles against American forces and regional partners, an assessment offered to justify the strikes. That account did not end partisan debate in Washington. Democratic lawmakers demanded more detail, questioned whether Iran posed an immediate threat, and criticized the administration for not seeking congressional authorization for the use of force. One Democratic member of Congress called the strikes illegal and said the Constitution requires the president to obtain an Authorization for Use of Military Force from Congress.
Members of Congress were scheduled to receive classified briefings on the operation. Lawmakers from both parties expressed concern about next steps after the killing of an Iranian leader, noting uncertainty about Iran’s internal dynamics and the risk of further escalation.
It also remained unclear whether diplomatic channels could reopen. Over the weekend the president posted additional warnings aimed at deterring Iranian retaliation. Officials reiterated that military operations will continue until stated objectives are achieved.