Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on March 10 that the United States intends to conclude its war with Iran “on our timeline,” asserting the campaign will continue until Tehran is decisively weakened. His remarks came amid mixed public comments from President Donald Trump and as new strikes and confrontations spread across the region. The conflict, which began on February 28, has disrupted global energy flows, prompted major military deployments around the eastern Mediterranean and Persian Gulf, and produced mounting civilian tolls across several countries. Officials say investigations are underway into a deadly strike on a primary school in Iran that has drawn international scrutiny.
Key takeaways
- The United States has used roughly $5.6 billion in munitions in the first two days of the war, according to a Pentagon assessment provided to Congress.
- Defense Secretary Hegseth said on March 10 the US will not relent until the enemy is “totally and decisively defeated” and that the conflict will end on a US timetable.
- At least 1,245 civilians—including 194 children—have been reported killed in Iran since February 28, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said; the conflict has produced casualties across Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman.
- The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted; some analysts warn oil could reach $150 per barrel if the closure persists, while US crude traded near $89 per barrel (down about 6%) and Brent near $92 (down about 7%) on March 10.
- Planet Labs restricted release of imagery over Iran and neighboring states, delaying subscriber access to new images by 14 days; the company said the step aims to limit battlefield use of fresh data.
- More than 1,700 missiles and drones have been launched at the UAE since the conflict began, with Emirati authorities reporting more than 90% intercepted; some projectiles struck civilian areas.
- The US State Department says it has completed over two dozen charter evacuations and assisted over 27,000 Americans abroad; DHS data indicate more than 40,000 US citizens have returned from the Middle East since February 28.
Background
The clash between the United States, Israel and elements of Iran intensified sharply after coordinated strikes and counterstrikes beginning February 28. Longstanding tensions over Iran’s missile programs, regional proxy networks and its nuclear ambitions provided the immediate strategic context. For decades, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz have been focal points for Iran–West friction because of their centrality to global oil shipments; disruption there amplifies economic and political pressure worldwide.
European and regional partners have responded with defensive measures: several EU members dispatched equipment to Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean as a staging and deterrent posture. Cyprus, which hosts British sovereign bases, has figured prominently because of its strategic location for operations in the Middle East. At the same time, major satellite imagery providers and private vendors have tightened access to real-time images of the theatre to avoid enabling rapid battlefield assessments by adversaries.
Main event
At a Pentagon briefing on March 10, Secretary Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine outlined the administration’s posture. Hegseth described Iran’s leadership as “desperate and scrambling” and warned Russia against intervening. Caine said US forces have used precision penetrating munitions—”dozens of 2,000‑pound” weapons—against deeply buried missile sites and that the military is prioritizing Iran’s capacity to produce and launch missiles.
Overnight strikes struck Tehran and other locations, with residents reporting heavy shelling and officials describing a “broad wave” of attacks. In parallel, the UAE and neighboring states reported multiple incoming missiles and drones, with one fire at the Ruwais Industrial Complex and at least one civilian fatality in Bahrain. Regional air defenses and allied interceptors have engaged hundreds of inbound threats.
On the diplomatic and civilian side, the State Department said most of its charter flights from the Middle East have been underfilled because many Americans are leaving on commercial flights or choosing to remain. Officials reported completing over two dozen charter evacuations and offering assistance to more than 27,000 US citizens abroad; DHS data cited by the State Department put total returns since February 28 at over 40,000.
Analysis & implications
Militarily, the heavy early expenditure of advanced munitions—$5.6 billion in the first two days, per a Pentagon figure—raises questions about sustainment. Lawmakers and defense planners are already considering whether supplemental funding will be required to replenish precision-guided stocks and air-defense interceptors if high-tempo operations continue. The logistic and industrial bases for long-range munitions will be a policy focal point in coming weeks.
Economically, the practical closure or severe disruption of the Strait of Hormuz constitutes a major shock to energy markets. Analysts at Kpler and other consultancies warn oil could spike to historically high levels if the choke point remains obstructed. Elevated prices would ripple through inflation, trade balances and political calculations in importing countries, increasing pressure on governments to seek de-escalation or alternative security arrangements for tanker traffic.
The humanitarian and political consequences are also acute. Reported civilian deaths—especially the large number of child casualties reported in Iran—intensify international scrutiny and complicate efforts to preserve coalition unity. If investigations substantiate that strikes killed children at a primary school, the resulting political fallout could erode support for the campaign and spur calls for accountability and operational restraint.
Comparison & data
| Item | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| US munitions used (first 2 days) | $5.6 billion |
| Civilians killed in Iran (since Feb 28) | At least 1,245 (194 children) |
| Americans assisted by State Dept task force | Over 27,000 |
| US citizens returned (DHS) | Over 40,000 |
| Projectiles fired at UAE | More than 1,700 (90%+ intercepted) |
| Estimated US crude price change | ~$89 per barrel (down ~6% on March 10); up ~33% since Feb 28 |
The table above compiles figures cited by US officials, NGOs and media reporting during the early phase of the campaign. These numbers illustrate both the human cost and the material intensity of the operation: high ammunition consumption, significant civilian casualties, mass movements of people, and severe disruptions to energy transit routes.
Reactions & quotes
“We will end this on our timeline and we will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated,”
Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of Defense
Hegseth framed the campaign as time‑bounded by American political and strategic objectives while warning of continued military pressure. His remarks came after President Trump offered more variable public assessments of the war’s progress.
“If tasked to escort, we’ll look at the range of options to set the military conditions to be able to do that,”
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Caine emphasized planning and risk assessment regarding possible naval escorts through the Strait of Hormuz, noting that any escort mission would require decisions about resources, command and control, and risk mitigation.
“If it were to end this week it would mean that the Islamic Republic is still very much in power,”
Holly Dagres, senior fellow, The Washington Institute
Dagres warned that an early or limited conclusion to the campaign could strengthen hardline narratives inside Iran and precipitate harsher domestic repression.
Unconfirmed
- Reports that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in recent strikes remain unverified; officials have not confirmed his status.
- Attribution of the primary school strike is under investigation; while some open-source analyses pointed to a US Tomahawk missile, formal findings from US Central Command and independent probes are pending.
- Estimates that oil will reach $150 per barrel by the end of March are forecasts, not certainties; they depend on the duration and geographic scope of the Strait of Hormuz disruption.
Bottom line
The conflict that began on February 28 has entered a phase of sustained, high‑intensity operations with significant material and human costs. US leaders publicly frame the campaign as a controlled, time‑limited effort to degrade Iran’s military capabilities, but high rates of munitions consumption and repeated regional strikes complicate the path to a quick resolution.
Beyond immediate battlefield outcomes, the crisis is reshaping global energy markets, pressuring allied logistics and political coalitions, and raising urgent questions about proportionality and civilian harm. In the coming days, lawmakers will press for details on cost and resourcing, investigators will seek to establish responsibility for civilian casualties, and regional actors will weigh whether to press for a negotiated pause or to escalate further.
Sources
- CNN — Live reporting on the Iran war (news)
- US Department of Defense — Pentagon statements and briefings (official)
- US Department of State — Traveler assistance and official statements (official)
- Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) — Civilian casualty reporting (NGO)
- Planet Labs — Company announcement on imagery restrictions (company)
- Kpler — Energy analytics and market commentary (commercial analytics)