U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (left) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine brief reporters. (Yonhap News)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on the 4th (local time) that the United States is winning against Iran in the ongoing military operation against Iran, which has entered its fifth day.

During a briefing at the Pentagon with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine on the same day, Secretary Hegseth said, "Under the direct command of President Trump, the United States is winning decisively, destructively, and without mercy."

He added, "Although it has only been four days since the operation began, the results are not only surprising but also historically significant," stating, "Only the United States, only we, could lead this."

He also said, "With the addition of the incredibly powerful Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the combination is pure destruction for our radical Islamic Iranian adversaries," adding, "They are finished, and they know it, or at least they will soon."

Secretary Hegseth announced that the two strongest air forces in the world would gain complete control of Iranian airspace, which would be uncontested airspace, and this would be completed within a few days.

This is interpreted to mean that Iran's air defense network will be neutralized, allowing U.S. and Israeli forces to operate with virtually no resistance in Iranian airspace, carrying out operations such as destroying missile bases and defense industries.

Secretary Hegseth said, "The Iranian leaders will look up at the sky every day, every minute, and only see the air power of ourselves and Israel."

Secretary Hegseth also revealed that a U.S. submarine had sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean the previous day.

Secretary Hegseth stated, "A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship that believed it was safe in international waters. It was sunk by a torpedo," adding, "This is the first instance of sinking an enemy vessel with a torpedo since World War II."

Secretary Hegseth also announced that the commander of an Iranian unit that attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump had been killed.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Caine reported, "As of this morning, U.S. Central Command is making steady progress," stating that 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 that the number of one-way (suicidal) attack drone launches by Iran has decreased by 73% compared to the initial days of combat.

Regarding concerns that a reduction in U.S. ammunition stockpiles might limit military operations, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Caine stated, "We have sufficient precision munitions secured for current mission requirements, for both offensive and defensive operations."