WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) – The next few days in the Middle East conflict will be decisive, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a briefing on Tuesday, saying there had been major desertions from the Iranian armed forces.
“We have more and more options, and they have less … in only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive,” Hegseth said. “Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it.”
Hegseth, citing intelligence, said the strikes were damaging the morale of the Iranian military. This, he said, was triggering widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and causing frustration amongst senior leaders.
Hegseth also said he had visited troops in the Middle East on Saturday to witness the military operation against Iran.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart, writing by David Ljunggren, editing by Michelle Nichols)
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