U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Heges holds a press briefing at the Pentagon on the military operation against Iran, now in its fifth day, on the 4th (local time). [Yonhap News]

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Heges stated on the 4th (local time) that the United States is gaining the upper hand against Iran in the ongoing five-day military operation against Iran and vowed to continue concentrated attacks on Iran.

During a briefing at the Pentagon with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kain, Heges said, "Under the direct command of President Trump, the United States is winning decisively, destructively, and without mercy."

He added, "Even though it has only been four days since the operation began, the results are not only astonishing but can be called historic," and continued, "Only the United States, only we, can lead this."

Furthermore, he stated, "With the addition of the highly destructive Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the combination will be pure destruction for our radical Islamic Iranian adversaries," and declared, "They are finished, and they know it, or at least they will soon find out."

Heges predicted, "The two most powerful air forces in the world will completely dominate Iranian airspace, which will be uncontested airspace," and indicated this would be completed within days.

This is interpreted to mean that Iran's air defense systems will be neutralized, allowing U.S. and Israeli forces to operate virtually unimpeded within Iranian airspace, conducting operations such as destroying missile bases and defense industries.

Heges stated, "Iranian leaders will look up to the sky every day, every minute, and see only our and the Israeli air power," and added, "B-2, B-52, B-1 bombers, and attack drones will dominate the skies, select targets, and inflict death and destruction from the sky all day long."

He emphasized, "This cannot be a fair fight. We are throwing punches while they are down."

Heges also announced that a U.S. submarine had sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean the previous day.

He said, "A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship that was thought to be safe in international waters. It was sunk by a torpedo. A silent death," and added, "This is the first time since World War II that an enemy ship has been sunk by a torpedo."

He also revealed that the commander of an Iranian unit that attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump had been killed.

A map of the U.S. military operation against Iran is displayed in the briefing room at the Pentagon, where U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Heges held his briefing on the 4th (local time). [Yonhap News]

Heges further stated, "We will take all the time necessary to ensure our success."

When asked if Iran would last longer than the United States, he asserted, "Iran cannot last longer than us. We will set the tone and pace of this fight through our offensive and defensive capabilities."

He explained, "Our defensive capabilities are improving, and their offensive capabilities are weakening."

Heges noted, "We can say it will take four weeks, but it could be six weeks, eight weeks, or even three weeks."

Chairman Kain reported, "As of this morning, U.S. Central Command is making steady progress," and stated, "The number of theater ballistic missile launches by Iran has decreased by 86% compared to the first day of combat, and by 23% in the last 24 hours alone."

He also said, "Iran's one-way (suicide) attack drone launches have decreased by 73% compared to the initial days of combat."

Regarding concerns that a reduction in U.S. ammunition stockpiles might constrain military operations, Chairman Kain stated, "Precision munitions necessary for the current mission are sufficiently secured for both offensive and defensive operations."

Chairman Kain explained, "We will now progressively strike deeper into Iranian territory inland," and said this would "create additional freedom of maneuver for U.S. forces."

When asked about the possibility of deploying ground troops, he declined to answer, stating, "That is a matter for policymakers."