US Intensifies Strikes Inside Iran as Conflict Enters 11th Day

War Secretary Hegseth says today will be the most intense day of the campaign so far

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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As the ongoing conflict in West Asia entered its 11th day, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that today will be the most intense day of strikes inside Iran yet, with more fighter jets, bombers, and coordinated attacks planned. Hegseth defended the US military's actions, saying this is not a repeat of previous prolonged engagements, and that the US has total air dominance and is committed to achieving President Trump's objectives on the US's own timeline.

Why it matters

The escalation of US military strikes inside Iran signals a further intensification of the conflict in the region, which began after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israel strikes on February 28. The conflict has raised concerns about the potential for a wider regional war.

The details

Hegseth said the US military is ramping up its campaign, with more fighter jets, bombers, and coordinated strikes planned for today. He stated that intelligence is more refined and the US has total air dominance. Despite the escalation, Hegseth noted that Iran's missile response has declined in the last 24 hours. Hegseth defended the US actions, saying this is not a repeat of previous prolonged engagements, and that the US is committed to achieving President Trump's objectives on its own timeline.

  • The ongoing conflict in West Asia entered its 11th day on March 10, 2026.
  • Hegseth made the remarks during a briefing at the Pentagon on March 10, 2026.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The US Secretary of War.

Dan Caine

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The former Supreme Leader of Iran, who was killed in joint US-Israel strikes on February 28.

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What they’re saying

“Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes. Intelligence is more refined and better than ever.”

— Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of War

“We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated. But we do so on our timeline and at our choosing.”

— Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of War

“This is not 2003. This is not endless nation-building under the quagmires we saw under Bush or Obama. Our generation of soldiers will not let that happen again, and nor will this president, who very clearly ran against those never-ending, nebulous missions. Those days are dead. Instead, we're winning decisively with brutal efficiency, total air dominance, and an unbreakable will to accomplish the president's objectives on our timeline.”

— Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of War

What’s next

The US military is expected to continue its intensified campaign of strikes inside Iran in the coming days as it seeks to achieve its objectives.

The takeaway

The escalation of US military strikes inside Iran marks a significant intensification of the conflict in the region, raising concerns about the potential for a wider regional war. However, the US is framing its actions as a decisive campaign to achieve its objectives on its own timeline, in contrast to previous prolonged engagements in the region.